Journalists Appreciate Oyo Govt on Containment of Covid-19 Spread   

…..As Medical Expert Attributes Effects of Covid-19 To Current Agitations, Crisis in Nigeria

A medical expert who is also the Incident Manager of Oyo State Covid-19 Emergency Operation Center (EOC), Dr Pelumi Adebiyi has disclosed that the current security situation in Nigeria was caused by the effects of Covid-19 on the socio-economic lives of the people.

Dr Adebiyi said this at a sensitization programme for journalists on Covid-19, held on Tuesday at Kakanfo Inn, Ibadan, where the State’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bashir Bello highlighted the efforts of the State Government in the struggle to nip in the bud, the spread of the virus.

The programme which was sponsored by the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and Oyo State Government was targeted at sensitising the media practitioners about the State of the virus, the myths and rumours around it and the expected inputs of news reporters.

Dr. Adebiyi hinted that a lot of people and businesses in the country have been affected by the lockdown order that followed the incursion of the disease which had led to a lot of depression and hunger in the land.

“We are all aware of the fact that a large percentage of our people got displaced in their social status, many lost their jobs, many businesses got locked out and it has lead to anger.

“Some that were earning so little before the pandemic could not even earn anymore, livelihood of many have been disrupted and all of a sudden, the bottled anger got bursted by the agitation for police reform,” Adebiyi said.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Bashir Bello highlighted the efforts of the State Government saying that the State Response Team that had been on ground before the advent of Covid-19 helped contain the spread of the disease in Oyo State.

He mentioned the use of the three pillars of scientific expertise, data base and logic application with which the administration tackled the Covid-19 pandemic and brought down panic and spread of the virus.

“The administration did away with bureaucracy immediately after there was the report of the first case of the virus in Oyo State on the 21st March, 2020 to make the work of the medical experts go unhindered.

“Fortunately, the State had a ready State Response Team on ground that has earlier been used to tackle other epidemics like Ebola virus, the team helped to work round the clock alongside the State’s Covid-19 team to contain the virus.”

Journalists at the event were unanimous in appreciating Oyo State Government for its efforts towards containing the infection and giving succor to the businesses and individuals that were affected by the effects of the disease.

They called on the Government to step up efforts to create job centers and other palliative packages that would support individuals and businesses.

Signed:

Wasiu Olatubosun (P.hd),

Hon. Commissioner for Information,

Culture and Tourism (MIC&T),

Ibadan.