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Easing of lockdown driven by politics, not Science – Olurode

Professor Lai Olurode has said the easing of the lockdown announced by the Federal Government was not science-driven, but mere politics.

A police officer pursues fleeing motorcycle taxi riders who refused to stop at mounted barricades to check movement of vehicles and for failing to comply with the sit-at-home order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus on Lagos Ibadan expressway, on April 28, 2020. – Nigeria will start easing a coronavirus lockdown covering its largest city Lagos and capital Abuja from May 4, 2020, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said on April 27, 2020. He unveiled new measures including a nationwide night-time curfew, mandatory wearing of facemasks and a ban on non-essential travel between different regions. (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP)

Professor Lai Olurode has said the easing of the lockdown announced by the Federal Government was not science-driven, but mere politics.

“And this is understood. Elections have to be won and every vote counts. The greed for votes is a real phenomenon. The opposition will exploit any prolonged lockdown and criticised palliative interventions to advantage.”

Speaking in a chat with The Guardian, Olurode said there isn’t statistical evidence that infections had gone down nor that fatalities driven by COVID-19 complications were on the decline, as there isn’t any cure yet.

“Governments are merely responding to public opinion to ease lockdown and since palliatives are at huge costs, they are unsustainable. Personally, I believe that if governments had the resources, they could have ordered lockdown for a few more weeks.”

The professor of sociology stated that countries where COVID-19 is being effectively fought are those where lockdown had been longer and enforced.

“Lockdown had been proved to be more effective in mitigating pandemic for centuries. These countries also have strong state institutions, high levels of social trust and the functional social contract. Indeed, government policies aren’t consistently driven or oiled by science but, more often by political sentiments.

“As we ease lockdown, therefore, we must maintain a rigid regime of personal health protection in all respects and physical rather social distancing as well. If we can afford it, an additional week or two of personal lockdown is advisable. These are abnormal times.”

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