Atiku advises FG on ways to combat coronavirus

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has offered advice to the Federal Government on how best to tackle coronavirus infestation.

In a series of tweets on Twitter, the Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party first called for unity amongst the three tiers of Government. Comparing the outbreak of coronavirus with the Ebola virus which afflicted the nation in 2014; Atiku stressed that unity, solidarity, and oneness of purpose will be useful in tackling this matter.

We must call upon our experience with the Wild Ebola Virus, of which we were the first nation in the world to defeat that scourge in 2014. How did Nigeria do it? We achieved it by showing unprecedented unity.

— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) February 28, 2020

"We must call upon our experience with the Wild Ebola Virus, of which we were the first nation in the world to defeat that scourge in 2014. How did Nigeria do it? We achieved it by showing unprecedented unity.

"The federal government of the day worked closely with the Lagos and Rivers state governments. There was complete unity, solidarity, and oneness of purpose, which created the atmosphere that defeated that deadly infestation," he said.

Atiku, who challenged Buhari for the Presidency in the 2019 General Elections asked for solutions and not accusing fingers.

Suggesting a decision to temporarily ban flights to and fro the nation, he urged for early detection facilities to be installed at airports.



"Nigeria needs firm and decisive actions to prevent an escalation of the scourge. Recently, we closed our borders as an act against economic sabotage. Perhaps now is the time to temporarily halt flights to and from any nation with a prevalence of this scourge.

"It is more important to secure human lives than to secure an economy. We also need to invest in early detection facilities at our airports," the former presidential candidate stated.

Very optimistic of a turnaround, Atiku told Nigerians to show faith and courage as he believed that coronavirus will suffer the same fate as Ebola- defeated never to rise again.

"But above all, Nigeria must not panic. Whether at government or individual levels. We have defeated Ebola before, and we can defeat this present predicament.

"This crisis is an opportunity to show that we are first and foremost Nigerians and that we have no other country but our dear fatherland, which we must work together to keep healthy and secure," he concluded.