A Southwest socio-political organisation, Yoruba Ronu, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to discourage the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 against the planned aerial fumigation of the country as part of measures to contain the spread of the pandemic.
 
In a statement yesterday, President of the group, Mr. Akin Malaolu, warned on the likely health and economic issues that might arise from such, saying: “The exercise may trigger some other issues, like asthma, food poisoning and their multiplier effects on COVID-19 victims.

“More deaths would be recorded, which may put a lie to all efforts so far achieved, while the economic consequences on fish farms and others can be best imagine.”
 
Although the group commended the leadership of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for adopting bold steps to save Nigerians from the scourge, it said recent events unfolding from the daily briefing by the PTF were have become worrisome to discernible minds, noting: “Some few days ago, the PTF hinted of intension to carry out aerial fumigation on 200 million Nigerians without deep thought for its consequences on our health, aquatic and fish farming and millions of poultry farming activities ongoing.
 
“As leaders of thought in the Southwest, we are informing the government of the likely health and economic issues that may arise…
 
“Many states and local governments have done the fumigation exercise, while the one under contemplation is ill-advised and unnecessary. Leaders in PTF should remember to put to use, the words of the President that the irresponsibility of the few must not be allowed to lead to many deaths. Nigerians are not qualia birds.

“We hereby urge the media to be circumspect over the promises of life insurance policy, because it does not cover deaths arising from a pandemic; it is a lost risk.

“We are, for these very urgent reasons, calling on Buhari to show his strong presence in office and call them to order before the deeds are done.”