For some months now, the number of recorded Covid-19 cases in Nigeria is on a steady decline, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) often reporting less than 100 or even 75 cases in a day. PAUL OKAH takes a critical look at the implications.
Before the berthing of the Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria in February this year, many Nigerians were worried about government’s preparedness in tackling the infection if it eventually finds its way into the country. Even when the first case was recorded, though an Italian man who came into Lagos in a Turkish airplane, panic button was already pressed by Nigerians lacking faith in federal and state governments.
Therefore, it was not a surprise to many when high number of cases was reported by the NCDC on a daily basis, leading to government activating many measures to contain the spread of the virus. In fact, before the end of March, almost every sector of the economy was shut down, with interstate travels banned and movement restricted to almost everyone, save for those on essential duties.
The situation was also compounded when the NCDC boss, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, revealed that every state in Nigeria will certainly record cases, since the infection was now at a community level, leading to Nigerians adopting different measures to protect themselves.
Interestingly, the month of August saw Nigeria recording far less number of cases than other months, suggesting a steady decline, but with many implications.
Fewer testing
For months now, the common argument has been that Nigerians are not testing as much people as possible, hence the number of Covid-19 cases recorded in Nigeria being very low.
In a chat with Blueprint Weekend, a pharmacist based in Equatorial Guinea, Okpani Daniel Idam, said Nigeria is behind other African countries in number of tests conducted, hence the low cases.
He said: “We are not carrying out enough testing of Covid-19 cases in Nigeria. As of Monday, September 14, 2020, confirmed cases were 56,388, with 44,337 cases discharged and 1,083 deaths recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, that’s according to the NCDC. Nigeria is about 200 million people, but has only managed to carry out fewer tests since the country recorded its index case in February.
“On the other hand, Uganda, Kenya, Mauritius, Ghana, South Africa, have achieved much rates of testing. South Africa is leading in Africa with number of tests conducted, according to data on Worldometers.info. Are these countries better than us? Our problem is that we politicise issues concerning citizens in Nigeria, and that is what you get when you are using incapable hands.
“The implication is that many people will believe that the numbers are coming down and will resume their daily routine, whereas the virus is very much here with us. We are yet to do five per cent of the population, yet we are rolling out figures daily. It is very shameful. To tell you the truth, if Nigeria wants to improve and measure up like other countries, they know what to do. I don’t even want to talk about the issue of JOHESU being on strike, which will also affect the testing capacity.”
Non-adherence to preventive measures
Since the pandemic berthed in Nigeria, governments and organisations embarked on sensitisation campaigns for Nigerians to save themselves from infection, including maintaining social distance, hand-washing hygiene, wearing of face mask, among others.
However, for all intents and purposes, Nigerians appear to be rebelling against government by returning to how life was lived before the advent of covid-19, even as many Nigerians believe that there is no existence of the virus in Nigeria.
In a chat with this reporter, a motorist in the FCT, Mr. Yakubu Bello, said like many drivers, he was not bothered about face masks, even as he defended carrying more passengers than allowed by government.
He said: “My brother, you and I know that government has not been sincere with regards to this coronavirus. We keep hearing about a number of cases, but not seeing any infected person. As a result, the big men only make laws to protect themselves, not the rest of us.
“Fuel prices have increased, electricity bill has increased among other things, so why should I bother with carrying few passengers? When security agents themselves don’t wear facemasks, why should I bother themselves? I carry full passengers, four at the back and one in front because I must cover cost of fuel.”
Poor face masks, sanitisers’ sale
There is no gain saying that there is now a poor demand of facemasks, hand sanitisers and other items that were hitherto in high demand with the advent of the pandemic.
Speaking with our reporter on Tuesday, a hawker at the Ahmadu Bello expressway, Mr. Peter Ikechukwu, said he had to invest his money in buying cartons of hand sanitisers and different types of facemasks, but that the market has been “dull” for weeks.
“I can’t understand what is happening; my money is tied up in the hand sanitisers and other products I bought for sale because of this covid-19. However, the market has been dull, very dull for weeks now. It is either the Covid-19 has disappeared or people are no longer bothered. I am disturbed and have to recover my money,” he said.
Schools re-opening
Since the beginning of this month, many state governments have been rolling out plans to reopen schools, since the number of Covid-19 cases is becoming lesser on a daily basis, implying willingness to tackle the infections headlong, especially by applying safety measures.
Senate’s position
On Tuesday, at a joint Senate Committee on Aviation and Health interactive session held in Abuja, chairman Senate Committee on Aviation, Smart Adeyemi, faulted the policy adopted by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19, which allowed only private laboratories to carry out tests on intending travellers abroad at N75, 000 per tests, urging the PTF to ensure reduction in the cost of testing by enlarging the scope of laboratory testing for the pandemic by including public laboratories.
“People are not finding things easy outside as a result of the manner Covid-19 pandemic is being fought in the country. As representatives of the people, reports reaching us indicate revolt against government in December if drastic actions are not taken between now and then to make things easier,” he said.
Also, a member of the committee, Sen. Biodun Olujimi (PDP Ekiti), took up the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, and PTF national coordinator, Dr. Sani Aliyu, on the usefulness of face masks in Nigeria based on realities on ground.
“When I visited some communities in Ekiti last week, many people didn’t put on the face masks. These are clear signs that methods and approaches being used to fight the pandemic should be re-assessed and changed since the pandemic for reasons yet to be scientifically established, is far less potent here than it is elsewhere in the world,” she said.
Govt’s warnings
Nevertheless, despite the fact that number of Covid-19 cases are declining on a daily basis, government has warned that the success recorded in the past must not be neglected or thrown aboard in order for the country not experience a second spike.
In a statement on its official twitter handle on Tuesday night, the NCDC stated that it had conducted 443,987 tests since the first confirmed case relating to the pandemic was announced and that a decline in the daily confirmed number of infections does not mean that the virus is over in the country.
The statement read in part, “We are not yet in ‘Post-Covid’ times. Covid-19 is not over until there is no coronavirus anywhere in Nigeria and the world. Let’s continue to wash our hands, wear a mask and maintain physical distance. It’s a lot easier to wear a mask than a ventilator. Protect yourself and your loved ones by wearing a mask today.
“Sudden loss of taste or smell with fever, headache or runny nose could mean Covid-19 infection and not malaria. Do not self-medicate on malaria drugs when you have any of the Covid-19 symptoms. You will put yourself and others at great risk if you do. Call your state’s hotline to arrange for a Covid-19 test immediately. We need the cooperation of return travelers and adherence to protocols so that we can maintain the gains achieved in the response.
“Hotels, whether isolation sites or not, must ensure they clean, disinfect, and ventilate all rooms properly between each guest’s stay. If a guest or staff develops Covid-19 symptoms, isolate the person immediately and call your state’s hotline to arrange for a Covid-19 test.
“Find state emergency contacts here: covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/contact/ Remember, the coronavirus can live on surfaces. Handles, elevator buttons, handrails, switches, doorknobs, remote controls, etc. should be frequently disinfected. Regular hand-washing with soap and running water offers more protection than wearing gloves. Gloves don’t protect you. Proper hand hygiene does.”
