. As FG Places Travel Restrictions on Travellers from US, UK, 11 Others.
By Hamilton Nwosa( Head, The New Diplomat Business and Data Tracking desk)
Following increasing global spread of the deadly Coronavirus from China to various European countries as well as the United States, the Nigerian Senate has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to address Nigerians on the current status of Nigeria with respect to the coronavirus in the country.
The Senate also urged the federal government to shut down all international airports except Lagos and Abuja airports to enhance speedy, easy and capable monitoring of the disease.
The lawmakers who asked the president to suspend the issuance of visa on arrival at the borders so as to check the spread of the pandemic urged the President to speak to Nigerians, assure the citizens on the state of the nation with respect to the virus.
This call followed a point of order raised by Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe) during plenary on Wednesday. This development is coming amidst backlash on the president for failing to address the nation like some presidents of other countries have done. Normally, presidents the world over address their nations during issues of national emergencies like the outbreak of this epidemic virus.
For example, countries like Ghana, South Africa and Zimbabwe have had their presidents address them since the coronavirus outbreak in those countries. Senators like Oluremu Tinubu, George Sekibo, Sam Egwu and Emmanuel Bwacha took turns to support the call.
While some lawmakers said members of the national assembly should not travel out to countries with high cases of the virus, many others said whoever travels out of the country, should self-quarantine for two weeks before returning to the upper national chamber.
The lawmakers who expressed fears and apprehension that Nigeria does not have the necessary facilities capabilities to contain the virus maintained that this calls for caution.
This is even as they kicked against the belief that coronavirus cannot survive in Africa.
The lawmakers demand is coming shortly after the federal government placed a travel ban on 13 countries with over 1000 cases of coronavirus. The government also confirmed five new cases of the virus in Nigeria, bringing to eight the total number of confirmed cases.
The countries affected by the travel restrictions are China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, Norway, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Switzerland. The Senate which also urged the federal government to take other measures not limited to travel ban such as an outright ban of some countries, tighter border controls, restricted gathering, stringent checking of coming into the country, and compulsory quarantine for two weeks for persons suspected of having the virus said such moves are desirable in the present circumstance.
They also urged the “federal government and Nigerians to keep abreast of all the measures and development taking place worldwide.” Other resolutions include:“Urge the Senate to give full support in fighting the spread of Coronavirus and; “Ensure that a testing centre is opened in each of the states of the federation.”
