A scientist, Dr. Livinus Abonyi, has advised President Muhamadu Buhari and Governors to ensure that Nigerians comply with measures against coronavirus as the lockdown ease commences May 4.
He warned both the government and individuals to be more careful as “any complacency may lead to complications that Nigeria might not be able to cope with”.
Abonyi, a lecturer in the Department of Medical Radiography, Faculty of Clinical Sciences at the University of Lagos College of Medicine, in an interview with NAN on Thursday, also commented on the high rate of deaths in Kano.
The scientist warned citizens not to take lightly, COVID-19 instructions given by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“People must be proactive and should not relax yet, even if the lockdown is lifted; continue to maintain optimum personal hygiene, avoid crowded places and ensure social distancing as Nigeria has yet to be out of COVID-19,” Abonyi said.
The medical expert urged federal and state governments to be more proactive in proffering solutions to the pandemic.
“For instance, the present increasing deaths in Kano- there is nothing like ‘mysterious death”, the scientist declared.
“Let the Federal Government investigate and research into the deaths to find out what is actually causing the deaths and proffer necessary solutions, instead of allowing the dead to be buried just like that.
“Also, Nigeria’s testing and treatment capacity on COVID-19 needs to be boosted to the full capacity.”
Abonyi said easing the lockdown order is an indication that there would be real danger ahead because going by the rate of increased confirmed cases, the spread of the virus might likely be doubled.
“Though the conditions for relaxing the lockdown, particularly in Lagos have not been rolled out, whether it will be fully or partially relaxed, it is an indication of a looming danger ahead.”
The expert explained that lockdown was the best option for preventing the spread of the deadly virus.
Abonyi, however, decried the belief in some quarters that coronavirus disease was not real.
