COVID-19: Nigeria Does Not Need A National Lockdown Now – Lawmaker

• The House of Reps had expressed worry over the reopening of schools across the country on Monday, saying that adequate safety measures have not been put in place

Chairman, House Committee on Basic Education and Services, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, has said that Nigeria does not need a COVID-19 induced national lockdown at the moment.

Ihonvbere while speaking on a television programme stated that the government must ensure that Nigerians begin to take the fight against COVID-19 more seriously.

“I do not think we need a national lockdown now, I think what we need now, in the first instance is serious controls,” Ihonvbere said.

Read also: Reps Oppose School Resumption, Propose Three-Month Postponement

He said the government is not engaging in a serious public enlightenment campaign and as such, people are not taking the pandemic seriously.

On the resumption of schools across the country, Ihonvbere said the nation is not ready as arrangements have not been made to ensure that the children are safe.

“Our classrooms are crowded, some have no furniture, they sit on the floor; we have not made arrangements for this.

“Even if you say children are asymptomatic or their immunity system is much stronger than that of adults, what about the school workers? What about their parents they go to meet at home?” Ihonvbere queried.