Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Director General of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), has stated that despite the surge in COVID-19 cases, the decision to ease the lockdown in Ogun, Abuja, and Lagos was not a mistake.
During his appearance on TVC on Tuesday morning, Ihekweazu responded to inquiries about whether the relaxation of the lockdown was a wrong move, considering the previous day’s incidents of large crowds at banks and public places disregarding COVID-19 precautions.
In his response, he emphasized the need for collective responsibility, stating, “On our side, we don’t think there was a mistake. We knew at some point this day had to come, but we really expected Nigerians and corporate Nigeria to take a little bit more responsibility for what happened yesterday.”
“There is only little government can do. We can issue a lockdown, we can bring out the police, but we rely on the common sense of most Nigerians, we rely on corporate Nigeria taking responsibility. This is not being done for NCDC nor for the Federal government or the state government. It is being done for us.”
“So we really are counting. Let’s take yesterday as an exception. Let’s see what happens today. Let us see how many corporates will come out of their offices and organize the queues in front of their offices. Let’s see how many corporates will organize their office spaces and actually put out their hand washings and educate their staff on the changes that they need to do for themselves. This is not being done for us. This is being done for you. So all of us have to take responsibility,” he emphasized.
Ihekweazu also pointed out the lack of support from some state governors in the fight against the pandemic.
When questioned about the absence of a lockdown in states like Sokoto, where COVID-19 cases and deaths have been increasing, Ihekweazu explained the limitations of enforcement powers, stating, “Nigeria is a federal republic and that the Federal government and NCDC don’t have any enforcement powers.”
He praised proactive and cooperative state governors and urged others to follow suit as the battle against the virus continues.