Northern Elders Forum Decries Govt’s Poor Response To COVID-19

The Northern Elders Forum, NEF, has expressed concern over what it described as the absence of any serious effort by the federal and state governments to cushion the effects of the necessary restrictions imposed on citizens in containing the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.
NEF noted that the absence of any serious effort by the federal and state governments is raising doubts over the effectiveness of the measures in the long term, and threatening to scuttle all efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
The Convenor, Northern Elders Forum, Professor Ango Abdullahi, in a statement said, “Governments must, as a matter of extreme urgency and national security, embark on the massive distribution of food and other essentials to the poor in particular.
“Mistakes made in some parts of the country which gave citizens no opportunities to prepare for lockdowns are being compounded by failures to follow through with provisions of assistance in forms of essentials of life such as food. Promises are not being honored, leading to erosion of faith in authorities by citizens and violations of lockdown orders.”
The forum observed that there is rising frustration and anger among the population which all governments must address immediately. “Resources must be released to enable distribution of food and other essentials in a transparent manner,” the forum added.
The forum also noted the efforts of governments at containing the spread of the virus, expressing concern that the nation should have been better prepared to deal with it.