10 factors that militate against Nigeria combatting the coronavirus should it hit us hard

By Ayo Akinfe

(1) We lack the discipline to practise social distancing. Our inability to form orderly queues can be seen from the way people scramble for food supplies. How do you fight an airborne virus when people are involved in a daily almighty scramble for food at distribution centres?

(2) There is now a growing social stigma attached to Covid-19 in many quarters. Some ignorant Nigerians actually see it as insulting to say someone has coronavirus. They think infected people are like lepers and in their ignorance take offence to suggestions they may be infected

(3) Most Nigerians are really only interesting in getting food supplies and not bothered about combatting this pandemic. They will abandon any health guidelines in search of essential items. It is why our streets are not deserted as they should be

(4) Our federal government appears insincere in combatting the crisis. For instance, 90% of the palliatives should go to Lagos and Ogun states and the FCT that are under lockdown. At the moment, money is being distributed to states that have no lockdowns whatsoever. This is a disincentive for people to obey the stay-at-home guidelines

(5) We do not produce the needed equipment to combat this virus. With a population of 200m, we need to be self-reliant when it comes to the production of things like facemasks, ventilators, test kits, respirators, asthma inhalers, etc

(6) Too many government officials will divert essential supplies to private sources. This will force people to abandon social distancing

(7) We lack intensive care units (ICUs). Isolation centres are great but we need ICUs to save those badly affected by the virus

(8) Religious leaders have too much of a hold on our people. Many Nigerians still think they can pray coronavirus away and refuse to accept that the only solutions are scientific and medical. This is why people still ignore medical advice

(9) Our economy can probably only withstand another fortnight of shutdown. After that, the government will have to lift the bar on social distancing as it cannot be sustained

(10) Our people are not prepared to forgo prayer gatherings in churches and mosques. I do not see Nigerian Christians and Muslims abandoning their places of worship for three months if that is what is required