Opinion
On COVID-19 Compliance
Has government done well in its efforts to contain the ravaging global Coronavirus in Nigeria? The answer is yes and no. No, because of the obvious poor state of our health facilities, inadequate number of testing and isolation centres, lack of adequate training of our health officials and others in the area of disease control, lack of commitment of some health workers in carrying out the demanding, risky job, failure of the authorities to take prompt actions sometimes and many more.
Yes, because some government agencies like the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Federal Ministry of Health and other health authorities have put measures in place to safeguard the lives of the citizens and have constantly reviewed them as the need arises. Various state governments have been commendably proactive in ensuring the COVID-19 cases in their domains, making the entire nation remain as minimal as possible.
However, the disturbing attitude of some Nigerians who blatantly refuse to obey the laid down rules and adhere to the measures, is dashing these efforts and putting the lives of the citizens and all the people who dwell in the country at risk. For instance, the NCDC’s advisory on COVID-19 of 18th March, 2020 states thus: “All returning travellers from foreign countries are required to self-isolate for 14 days whether symptomatic or not…Additionally, travellers returning from high-risk countries (China, Italy, Germany, France, United States of America, United Kingdom, Spain, etc.),will be actively followed-up for 14 days by the NCDC and Port Health Services; avoid contact with people; travellers from high-risk countries must undergo secondary screening at the point of entry.
Disappointedly, some federal lawmakers were reported to have refused to submit themselves for check upon their return from foreign trips, leading to a leaked confidential memo said to have been written by the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on the subject matter.
Again, going by the NCDC’s directive earlier quoted, all travellers returning from high-risk countries must self-isolate for 14 days and avoid contact with people. Yet the Chief of Staff, who had tested positive for the dreaded virus, returned to the country from Germany on March 14, did not self-isolate, and attended a couple of events, both personal and official, until he displayed some symptoms of the disease and surrendered himself for testing. The panic and tension the current state of his health has created in the country in view of the wide range of people that had direct contact with him is indescribable.
The same goes for Mr. Mo Atiku Abubakar, who, upon arrival from UK and France, was said to have a suspicious temperature but refused self-isolation and test. He rather went about his normal life in Abuja until he was whisked to the isolation center in Gwagwalada. Of course, he had since tested positive to the pandemic virus.
The questions then are, was the Abba Kyari not checked at the airport? Why did he not obey the directive of self-isolation for 14 days when he returned? Why did he mingle with people contrary to the advice of the NCDC shortly after he returned to the country? What was on the mind of Mr. Abubakar when he defied all NCDC directives? What happened to the follow-up claim by NCDC?
I think a proper investigation should be carried out to ascertain what actually happened? But without being preemptive, it may not be far from the usual attitude of some of our ruling elite, politicians and influential people, feeling they are above the law and some members of the public, including those at the airports, treating them as sacred cows. I once wrote an article on how this set of people defy all known protocol at the airport, thereby compounding the chaotic situations we have there most times.
So, it’s high time our leaders started leading by example. According to Albert Einstein, “setting an example is not the main means of influencing others, it is the only means”. Similarly, the words of Alessandro Berselli, “Great leaders don’t tell you what to do. They show you how it’s done”. NCDC boss, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, exemplified this type of leadership when he self-isolated himself for two weeks when he returned from China on an official trip early in the month, despite testing negative for the virus.
It is, therefore, expected that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, governors, religious and political leaders that had contact with the chief of staff, should demonstrate leadership by going into self-isolation for their good and that of others. Anybody that had contact with any confirmed case shouldn’t wait to be persuaded to do the right thing. That is the only way the virus can be contained in the country. After all, the disease is not a death sentence. The death rate, we are told, is just 2%; meaning that majority of the infected persons have pulled through.
All and sundry should also play their roles in checking the spread of the virus, by abiding by the laid down guidelines. When the Catholic Arch diocese of Abuja directed all Catholic faithful in the Arch diocese to stay at home on Sundays and follow the mass online, a friend screamed, “how will I receive Holy Communion online?! Mass I must attend, if I perish, I perish. One will surely die one day”, she asserted. This, unfortunately, is the mindset of many who would not adhere to the guideline, thereby endangering themselves and others. This must change.
It is also imperative that the authorities should do more towards the preemptive and containment measures, especially in taking the message down to the grassroots. This is the time for the Federal and State Ministries of Information, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), to intensify the important role of disseminating the proper information about the disease to the masses.
By: Calista Ezeaku
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Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
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