COVID-19: Easing of lockdown even in phases is very premature - Nigerian doctors

- President Buhari approved a ‘phased and gradual easing’ of lockdown measures in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun

- The relaxation of lockdown is billed to take effect from Monday, May 4

- This move has been faulted by Nigerians doctors who think it is premature as the nation has not gotten to that "safe" point yet

- According to the umbrella body of Nigerian doctors, NMA, more Nigerians will be exposed to the virus

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The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has faulted the decision of the federal government to relax the stay-at-home order.

The move was described as premature by the umbrella body of Nigerian doctors. According to the group, the country is still battling with inadequate Personal Protective Equipment for health workers, lack of enough bed spaces in states for infected people and rising infections across the country.

The NMA said this move can potentially expose more Nigerians to the coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, The Nation reports.

The president of the association, Dr. Francis Faduyile, in a statement in Abuja, on Friday, May 1, said Nigeria could experience a bounce in the number of coronavirus cases.

“As the incidence of the COVID-19 hits the 2000th mark by this weekend, just seven days after hitting the 1000th mark, it figuratively tilts the epidemiological curve towards an upward spike.

“More so, the revelation by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) that the nation lacks bed spaces in Lagos worsens this frightening scenario.

“The confusing situation in Kano is neither unravelled nor resolved. At the same time, some states continue to live in the delusion of zero COVID-19 incidences.

“The easing of the lockdown even in phases is very premature. Nigeria should learn from her neighbour Ghana where the same action produced 100 per cent increase in infection rate in just a week," the statement read in part.

Faduyile said with 113 healthcare workers in Nigeria reportedly infected with COVID-19, this is the time for all doctors and healthcare workers to adhere strictly to infection prevention and control protocols and not let their guard down.

He advised healthcare workers to be fully kitted in proper PPE before attending to any patient as every patient is a potential COVID-19 patient.

Wishing Nigerians safety and protection from COVID-19, the NMA prayed that the authorities will continue to carry out all necessary and more invigorated knowledge-based interventions towards a zero COVID-19 Nigeria.

Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja has been on lockdown for over a month due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, on Monday, April 27, President Muhammadu Buhari approved a ‘phased and gradual easing’ of lockdown measures in these areas, starting from May 4.

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It appears some Nigerians are not comfortable with this move. Many Nigerians have expressed their anxiety on public transportation which will see people jostle for buses in Lagos amid rising coronavirus tension.

About 70% of Nigerians have said they would not be comfortable using public transport in as much as the Covid-19 still persists - a poll by

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