FG urged to open borders as COVID-19 Lockdown palliative
Mr. Ademayowa Adeduro, MD/CEO, Law Union & Rock Insurance Plc
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Law Union & Rock Insurance Plc, Mr. Ademayowa Adeduro, has called on the Federal Government to open the nation’s borders and allow food items to come in as palliative to cushion the effect of COVID-19 lockdown on the citizens.
Mr Adeduro made the call while speaking in a telephone interview with this medium on the likely effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on the people and the nation’s economy generally if it is extended after the initial 14 days at the weekend in Lagos.
He appealed that as the initial lockdown order expires soon,if government should consider extending further the lockdown, they should also take into consideration the plight of Nigerians occasioned by the lockdown, calling on government to open the borders so that food which he said is one of the basic needs of the people can come into the country.
“At this critical moment what people need most is food and the best palliative government can give the citizens that will be most appreciated is food. Though government cannot send food across to everyone, but opening the country’s borders and allowing food items such as rice and beans from the neighboring countries to enter will do the magic.
“When the prices of food items are affordable and people have enough to eat and feed their families, they will be happy staying at home in compliance with the order. But when there is no food and people are hungry, and when people are hungry, they are angry and they will flout order even when such order is for their own good,” he said.
He added “the best thing the government at all levels can do now to Nigerians is to ensure availability of food nationwide. This will make people to comply fully with the lockdown order leading to the containment of the spread of the virus.”
He said the lockdown is seriously affecting every segment of the national life, adding that what people need at this critical moment is food, noting that opening borders and allowing food items such as rice and beans into the country will reduce the biting effect of the lockdown on Nigerians.
