Falana, others blame government for rise in COVID-19 cases

The Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), a coalition of civil society organizations have said that government at all levels are to be blamed for the rise in coronavirus cases in Nigeria.

Nigeria currently has 8,915 COVID-19 cases with 256 deaths since the first case was recorded in February.

According to human rights lawyer, the diseases may have affected sustainable development in the country.

He said that the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 have shown through their press briefing this week that “the battle against COVID-19 was not making the expected speedy progress.”

“Federal and state governments appear to be more interested in the politics of the pandemic than a critical understanding of the pandemic for a holistic solution,” the statement issued Adewale Adeoye, ASCAB spokesman, read.

“As of today, the federal and state governments have come up with programmes that exist more on paper than in reality all of which have failed to allay the fears and aspirations of millions of Nigerians.

“We question the capacity of the government to deal decisively with the COVID-19 spread because of so many policy somersaults, an indication of confusion and lack of capacity on the part of the government.

“The rise from less than 100 to four digits gives room for deep concern. It raises fundamental questions about the future of public health and livelihood of Nigerians which on the long run will be grievously affected by COVID-19.”