Change your style of response to COVID-19 – Agbakoba tells Buhari 

A former President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr Olisa Agbakoba, has told President Muhammadu Buhari to lift the strict lockdown restrictions and allow some flexibility to allow some level of work and economic activities within some parameters.

He also urged the government to change its style in the fight against the contagious coronavirus pandemic.

The senior lawyer said the Federal Government must now think globally but act locally if it is determined to overcome the contagion.

According to him, for Nigeria to successfully handle the crisis, given a weak public health system and paucity of funds, the Federal Government must depart from an “international strategy” and develop a domestic strategy.

Agbakoba said this in a statement he signed and made available to media houses.

He noted that the pandemic will change how things are done in the world forever, adding that Nigeria is not left out.

“The strategy for diversifying the economy has been urgent and very important as part of the post-COVID-19 economic strategy. To this end, there is a need to strengthen the agricultural and manufacturing sectors. The National Trade and Transportation policies need to be adopted, and so is the need for the enactment of trade remedy legislation.

“Nigeria also must take issues relating to the digital economy seriously. A well developed digital economy will not only create millions of jobs but also improve citizens` taxable income and generate revenue for the government, which directly increases government spending power. The federal government must ensure the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy Document 2020-2030.

“On the need for a Nigerian strategy on COVID-19, I call on the Federal government to interrogate available quinine medications and to engage Nigerian virologists and infectious diseases specialists, public health professionals and Traditional & Herbal medicine Institutions with a view to exploring local Nigerian solutions to COVID-19. This approach will also help to enhance the capacity of Nigerian specialists. This is in line with the policy of promoting and utilizing local content.

He commended the government for the COVID-19 measures taken so far but did not hide his concerns about the sustainability of the lockdown policy given the lack of social welfare system and scarce financial resources.

“I conclude by stating that the time has come for the federal government of Nigeria to adopt the policy of thinking globally and acting locally in solving the COVID-19 problem.