Nigerians have not experienced something of this magnitude before. About 80% of the country’s population are made up of the Gen X, Millennias, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha. A silent revolution is thus gradually creeping into the social consciousness of Nigerians, looking for opportunities for a better life, that cannot be disputed. The COVID-19 lockdown brought a compulsory holiday on the two most vibrant cities in Nigeria, Lagos and Abuja. Unarguably, the soul and spirit of the nation. Improving data collation to inform who currently needs help, so as to help estimate the likely spread of the coronavirus and to assess the states that need assistance are key to controlling this deadly disease.
Reopening the economy after the lockdown with the intention of curbing the spread of COVID-19 will be marked by assumptions. Epidemiologists and serologists have advised on the general testing of the population before re-opening the economy but Nigeria lacks the financial capacity to test every citizen. Random sampling is the best because it has a lower margin of error; the government could sample 20,000 people in Lagos making it 1,000 persons per Local government; the 1,000 persons will be further divided by the LCDAs in each local government. The result of the testing will help in formulation of the right policy in prevention and control of the disease. The transmissible power of COVID-19 should not be underestimated; the post-lockdown era should be about data collation and putting the framework in place for prevention and control.
COVID-19 experience will have a major impact on the public psyche; government needs to put measures in place to normalise the post-lockdown era in the social and economic space of Nigerians. A Harvard study suggests that social distancing will be the way to go till 2022 to ensure that hospitals have enough capacity for future patients. This is why information dissemination is the heartbeat of prevention and control of this deadly disease. Development of vaccines could take months, so, as a developing nation, we need to sensitise our people to what to do to stem community spread of the virus. Because wars are not won by ammunition but strategy, the government needs to formulate the right strategy to win this war based on our existential realities as a developing nation. The health inequities in Nigeria between the political class and ordinary Nigerians came to the fore during this pandemic.
How do we bridge health inequities in Nigeria? Functional primary health care services should be provided for Nigerians, because data-driven health care service is the cornerstone of proper primary health care service delivery. The post-lockdown era shall also bring mental health issues into focus because of the effect of COVID-19; many Nigerians might battle with depression, job losses, bankruptcy and illnesses. The government should provide health data to focus on how the disease is affecting the six geopolitical regions.
How to re-open and not shut down again should be the song on the lips of Nigerian policymakers. Previous diseases like Ebola, Swine flu, SARS, and MERS, were catastrophic but not like COVID-19. The monumental losses the world economy has experienced are indescribable. Across the world, the economies are still licking the wounds inflicted by COVID-19.
A resilient and effective leadership is needed at these trying times. All leaders must act with urgency, communicating with transparency, responding productively to missteps, and constantly updating strategies during this crisis. Reopening the economy is a task that must be accomplished; consultations must be made with all stakeholders to fashion out the right strategies for the rural and urban economies. The transport sector needs an appropriate regulation to prevent community transmission.
Social distancing is still the best way to prevent spread, integrating it as a policy in all commercial activities, such as banks, markets, schools, is the way out during the post-lockdown. The government should not rush in relaxing the lockdown; it should be gradual and systematic.
Oluwagbenga Oyebanji, Lagos
08112412163, siemmag@gmail.com
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