The Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum on Wednesday warned that easing the coronavirus lockdown in Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is risky if certain measures are not put in place.
The group, which conceded that the order for the ease of lockdown by President Muhammadu Buhari is understandable, said epidemiologists and communication strategists it consulted believed certain measures must be quickly implemented to make the government’s sudden exit plan successful. It would be recalled that President Buhari had in his nationwide broadcast on Monday, announced partial lifting of the lockdown in the three states from May 4, as well as a total and immediate lockdown in Kano State.
The group, in a statement by its President, Mr Akin Malaolu, said the President’s directive could fail without adequate and effective nationwide sensitisation.
It further stated that the influence of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) which, in collaboration with states and local governments, would have been best suited for this task, is yet to be felt.
“Going forward, the enlightenment strategy must include physical appearances in communities in deference to our communal way of life. This should be for the next 12 months in the first instance and starting immediately. It must also utilise relevant media of communication, not the least radio, which remains potent in reaching a largely oral society.
“The sensitisation, if properly carried out, will help the nation to avoid returning to sudden lockdown again, which, this time may be difficult to exit from,” the group said.
