Covid-19: Lockdown is Simplistic If There Are No Test Kits For Nigerians – CRA Says

…Urges MURIC, JNI, Others to donate to govt.

BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – The Christians Right Agenda (CRA), rose from a crucial meeting in Abuja during which it observed social distancing, declaring that the Federal Government’s decision to lockdown Abuja, Lagos and Ogun state, as worse hit, is too simplistic if test kits are only available to politicians and celebrities.

This is as it said that it is curious that days after the long-awaited national broadcast by President Muhammadu Buhari, majority of Nigerians are still to come to terms with most of the policy statements that did not seem to be well thought out.

The CRA specifically noted that up till this moment, neither the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs nor the entire COVID-19 management committee has shown a clear direction on who constitutes the ‘poor and vulnerable’ in our society.

The group therefore appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and his team to as a matter of necessity, go back to the drawing board to think out better strategies for handling the pandemic;

The group in a statement by its Interim Director of Publicity, Mr. Tom Chiahemen, viewed with concern developments surrounding the management of COVID-19 and matters arising therefrom.

The statement states further; “It is disheartening that after weeks of intense agitation, President Mohammadu Buhari, made a national broadcast that has attracted mixed feelings among the Nigerian populace.

“Again, Mr. President’s directive on school feeding program is rather confusing, especially when viewed against the backdrop of the current closure of all schools across the country.” 

The CRA therefore wonders which school feeding program Mr. President was referring to, or if that was an important issue in the face of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic?

Chiahemen said that all facts considered therefore, the Christians Right Agenda commended all those who have made contributions to help in managing the victims of the covid-19 pandemic;

The CRA particularly appreciated all the churches and other Christian bodies who rose to the 

occasion by donating cash and equipment and urged that all religious groups to rise to the occasion and emulate the Christian Church at this critical period;

CRA said; “That specifically such religious groups as MURIC, JNI, the Izala, etc, should come out at this point to show the love that all religions of the world preach. We challenge them to draw a line between humanity and politics;

“That as much as human isolation appears to be the best way yet to curtail the spread of the virus, lack of a well-defined policy to ameliorate the attendant challenge of isolation can lead to greater problems. This is because a lot of Nigerians live by daily earnings;

“That government should, as a matter of urgency, make test kits available to every Nigerian because there is no other way of knowing those infected.

“That the National Assembly should, as a matter of urgency, invoke the doctrine of necessity, and resume sitting. The parliaments of other nations didn’t close shop.”

The CRA said that while it is keenly watching developments, it appealed to all Nigerians to stay safe and remain law abiding, adding that all senior pastors nationwide have been directed to commence a 21- day fasting and prayer to seek the face of God at this critical period in world history.