ACTIONAID NIGERIA COMMENDS NIGERIAN GOVT IN THE MIST OF COVID-19
By Faith Awa Maji
The ActionAid Nigeria has commended and recognized the efforts by the current administration to take the country forward, particularly at an unprecedented time when the world is battling a pandemic.
ActionAid Nigeria which is a member of ActionAid global federation, made their positions known at the end of a Media training for journalists from Nasarawa and Kogi State in Kini Country Home, Akwanga, Nasarawa State.
According to them, despite the COVID-19 Disease Health Protection 2021 law which mandates the use of face mask in public places, citizens are yet to fully comply to the COVID-19 protocols, as Nigerians are seen on the streets and at markets without facemasks which nessecited the continued spiral in the country
“Though the Federal Government of Nigeria has set up online registration portal and house to house registration for administration of the doses of AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccinations received on March 2nd 2021, the strategy to ensure the country ‘Leave no one behind’ is still sketchy as the negative myths on the vaccines has continued to thrive”.
The social justice non organization called on the Federal Government to set a realistic timeline for the NIN registration to prevent a pandemonium and overcrowding of public places such as the registration centres.
“We implore all citizens to adhere to the minimum standards of COVID-19 prevention, wearing facemask, handwashing and maintaining physical distance in public spaces.
We also recommend that the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) ensure its multifaceted approach to registration & administration of the COVID-19 vaccine be inclusive, recognizing citizenry in excluded communities; whilst the National Orientation Agency works with other stakeholders to eliminate perceived myths about the COVID-19 vaccine”.
It viewed with dismay how corruption, uneven distribution, and lack of accountability at different levels thwart good intentions of government in tackling poverty.
The organization noted that health workers are protesting non-payment of allowances, no stable electricity, and the state of most Nigerian roads are still deplorable noting that the continuous usurp of powers of local government administration by state government.
“The roles of the Local Government Areas, as the third tier of government in the Nigerian 1999 constitution includes provision of infrastructural developments at the grassroots. Yet, state governments have continued to usurp the powers and functions attributed to the local governments and only acknowledge them as a subunit of the state with no autonomy”.
ActionAid Nigeria said insecurity is still on the rise in Nigeria, with many records of insurgency attacks, kidnapping, armed banditry abductions and killings, with scores of deaths both within the military and civilians, especially in the Northern and central part of the country.
“The rising cases of abduction of school children is alarming and will further disparage stakeholders’ efforts at reducing the rate of out-of-school children in Nigeria, particularly, the girl-child. Schools are now seemingly unsafe for girls and give parents undue justification to force their girl-child into an early marriage.”
Similarly, it recommended that the overhauling and restructuring of the security architecture to create real changes and avoid putting an old wine in a new bottle; funding, equipment, boosting the morale of the men in the field among others should also be revisited.
“Also, community ownership is key to winning the insecurity battle as evidenced by ActionAid Nigeria and state partners Community Action Response Teams (CARTs) piloted in 24 communities in Kogi and Nasarawa state”.
