Northern Group Accuses States Of Politicising COVID-19 To Get Funds From FG

A sociopolitical group in the north,  Northern Elders Forum (NEF), has alleged that some state governments are playing politics with COVID-19 and turning the pandemic to a cash cow through which funds are being milked from the federal government.

The group levelled the Allegation in a statement on Thursday by the group’s chairman, Ango Abdullahi.

In what appeared to be reference to repatriation of almajiri to their state of origin, He said the country needed good policies that would protect citizens, adding that it needed to eshew selective policies, one which neglected development strides in some parts of the country and violated the right of vulnerable citizens.

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Abdullahi said the donations given to Nigeria should be used judiciously and promptly, adding that there is a need for the country to develop a policy on how to respond to the disease.

 

“The forum regrets the appearance of attempts by many state governments to play politics with numbers for what appears to be expectations that more funds from the federal government and foreign donors will be allocated to them,” he said.

He noted that there should adequate provisions and support for citizens who will find it difficul to comply with the stay at home directives without some relief items during the lockdown.

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He said “It is public knowledge that what the entire nation needs are good policies that protect all Nigerians; equipment and facilities for testing and treatment; and resources to support people who will find it hard to stay at home without some palliatives during the lockdown.

“Policies that waste progress in some parts of the country and others which trample on the rights of vulnerable groups must be discouraged.

 

“States should adopt policies that suit their peculiarities, but the nation as a whole must agree on, and implement basic policies that protect the entire population.”

Abdullahi also lauded the federal government timely intervention to rescue the situation in Kano.

“In particular, we commend the decision to deploy a strong medical team to, among others, verify the causes of many deaths that are being popularly attributed to the pandemic as well as assist the government of Kano State to improve its facilities, investigations and treatment of suspected infections and those who are infected.” he added

 

So far, Nigeria has recorded 1,932 cases of the disease. While 319 patients have recovered, 58 people have died.