THUR, APRIL 23 2020-theG&BJournal- Governors of the 36 States of the federation (Governors Forum) unanimously agreed Wednesday to the decentralization of the COVID-19 response as the best chance of nipping the spread of the virus in communities and called for a 14-day lockdown as the pandemic takes a frightening turn in the country.
The Governors reached the agreement after receiving briefing from the Governors of Lagos, Bauchi, Oyo and Ogun States who shared their experiences and lessons from the fight against COVID-19. A communiqe issued by the Forum’s chairman, Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, at the end of the sixth COVID-19 teleconference meeting said only essential services would be permitted.
They also voiced ‘’serious concern’’ over the rising spread of the virus among health workers and resolved to work with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to ensure that health workers are “adequately” provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) and are “constantly” trained on the use of protective gears.
Among other resolutions reached by the Governors is the setting up of COVID-19 committees at the regional level, headed by their State Commissioners of Health in order to strengthen coordinated implementation of necessary public health recommendations across States.
According to the Governors, the regional committees will interface with the State Task Force Committees on COVID-19 already established in each State.
Most of the governors before now have set up independently, various response measures in their states including shutdown of state borders, dusk-to-dawn curfews and extended lockdown.
The pandemic has spread to 25 States of the Federation with Lagos and the FCT bearing the biggest brunt so far.
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