Government needs to give palliatives to cushion economic impacts of CIVOD-19, says MPAC

Muslim Public Affair Centre, (MPAC) Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to come out with palliatives that will cushion the economic impacts of the ruinous global challenge that comes with COVID-19 pandemic.

Director, Media & Strategic Communications, (MPAC) Nigeria. AbdulWarees Solanke enjoined compliance with professional guidance on tackling the spread of this virus, while he called on the government to help Nigerians to meet their economic challenges at this critical period.

MPAC in its latest statement titled: “Beyond The COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown in Nigeria” said: “At a time like this, we need to recognize the grim challenge humanity faces in this ruinous infection, and roll up the sleeves to prepare for the worst case scenario.

“Our government needs to mobilize all the national assets, in a controlled manner and confront the challenges head on, motivating those working in the frontline of our defense and control efforts to perform at their best.

“Nigerians are able to watch other nations grapple with this COVID-19 pandemic in different ways and as such they have different expectations of how feasible leadership is important and why stronger measures should be put in place to clamp down the speed and spread of infection and safe us from recording fatal statistics due to lack of adequate preparation and planning.

“Our surveillance system needs to be more robust and uncompromising, while greater emphasis must be placed on detection, isolation/quarantine and treatment.

“After the State and Federal Government directives to limit social gathering, it is good to see the positive and immediate responses from the religious communities to the guided directives”, he stated.

Sholanke continued: “Now, it is time to build a strong coalition against the threat of this terrible infection. Citizens and governments need to work together to make sure that we stop the spread of the infection in its track by all means necessary.

“Governments at all levels must continue to build capacity in the public health sector just as they increase investment in primary healthcare.
Now that the economic and the social lives of the populace are being locked down as a precautionary measure, with travel restrictions, measures on meaningful engagement and family subsistence sustainability are equally vital.

“Lack of a coherent and special social protection initiative specifically to deal with the individual economic challenges of Nigerians may work against the fight against the spread of the infection.

“How the government deals with all these issues together and in delicate balance is very important to how quickly we make progress in overcoming this exceptional challenge,” he stated.