A former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Dipo Olorunrinu, on Tuesday admonished Nigerians to make more sacrifice over lockdown extension in Lagos, Ogun and FCT to contain spread of COVID-19.
The lawmaker, who represented Amuwo-Odofin Constituency I at the 8th Lagos assembly, told our correspondent that the Federal Government did well in extending the lockdown.
Olorunrinu, the former lone Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker who defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) days to the expiration of his tenure, however, called on the government to do more in educating Nigerians on the virus and the reasons for the lockdown.
“The stay-at-home order, that we call lockdown, is quite a very good idea though it should have come earlier, but we thank God it has come to protect Nigerians from infections that had claimed over 100,000 lives globally within a short period.
“Looking at the masses on the other hand, I think they need to be more schooled. We need to increase the level of education about this virus on television, radio and through other advocacy or sensitisation programmes.
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“I think people need more education. People need more awareness to come to understand that life is more important than some of the cries of hunger people are making. The lockdown itself do not pay the government but it must do it to secure Nigerians.
“We understand there is a need for relief materials which the federal and Lagos state governments have been doing in Lagos. I applaud the governor for being proactive and for palliatives provided for Lagos residents,” Olorunrinu said.
The lawmaker, who felt for the poor and vulnerable, said the havoc being wreaked by the deadly virus in developed world should make Nigerians cooperate with the government on the lockdown.
Olorunrinu said Nigeria’s health facilities were not as sophisticated as those of developed world where several lives had been lost to the pandemic.
“The best approach is to cooperate with the government, notwithstanding the economic hardship. The lockdown should not be termed locking people down. It is in the interest of the people.
“Even the lockdown does not pay the government. The lockdown does not pay the country but when there is life, there is hope. It does not pay anybody. What is important most is to keep life going.
“Nigerians have to make more sacrifices. We will soon come back to the road for our usual hustling and bustling,” Olorunrinu said.
President Muhammadu Buhari in a broadcast on the Coronavirus pandemic on March 29, ordered restriction of movement in Lagos, Ogun and the FCT for an initial period of 14-days to contain spread of the deadly virus.
The President, in another national broadcast on Monday, extended the sit-at-home order for additional period of 14-days.
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