The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged the Federal Government to step up its actions, move beyond rudimentary interventions and adopt more stringent measures to further safeguard Nigeria from the COVID-19 pandemic.
While noting the steps so far being taken, the PDP however expressed worry that the current approach still falls short of the required pre-emptive measures, thereby leaving gaps that expose the country to avoidable risks.
The PDP observed that Nigeria is a strategic international hub. As such, the Federal Government should adopt stringent pre-emptive measures by radically stepping up our international ports and border screening as well as quickly improving the country’s internal surveillance and hygiene monitoring system.
The party urged the Federal Government to also go beyond its proposed secondary screening of travellers from certain countries and extend the measure to all international flights coming into the country, given the prevalence of connecting flights and land border crossing by international air travellers.
The party also urges the Federal Government to ensure that domestic airlines undertake proper screening of passengers as well as fumigation of their aircrafts to guarantee the safety of air travellers within Nigeria.
The PDP further urged the Federal Government to take immediate steps to create more screening centers and lead in providing more screening equipment in all airports, seaports, land borders as well as crowded places such as schools, market places, commercial vehicle terminals, public work places, religious gatherings, among others.
The party also counselled the authorities to mobilize a more concerted effort against the pandemic, remain open, resist the temptation of false performance claims and keep Nigerians adequately informed on the true position of issues at all times.
The PDP however called on Nigerians to remain vigilant, ensure their personal hygiene and follow directives issued by the authorities in the collective effort to safeguard our nation from the scourge and stay safe.
In another development, the Nigerian Senate Wednesday called on President Buhari to address citizens on the federal government’s preparations for coronavirus.
Also, the Senate urged the Federal Government to take more actions like travel ban, tighter border control and restrictions on large gatherings, and banning of some citizens of other countries from entering Nigeria.
It also urged all related government agencies to keep Nigerians abreast of all cases of the scourge worldwide, while banning flight operations from all international airport except Lagos and Abuja.
The senate also urged the federal government to stop immediately the visa on arrival policy as other citizens of other countries abuse it by using it to arrive Nigeria and fly directly to the United States of America.
The Senate also called on the federal government to set up coronavirua testing centres in all the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Another drastic measure the Senate wants the federal government to take is the banning of flights from countries with intense cases of the virus.
These resolution was sequel to a motion by Senator Danjuma Goje on the ravaging effect of the scourge.