COVID 19: Buhari Gets ECOWAS Nod, As Death Toll, Positive Cases Rise

By Tosin Olatokunbo

President Muhammadu Buhari has received the endorsement of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS for his government’s swift response to the corona virus pandemic, Presidential Spokesman, Femi Adesina said.

There are divergent views among Nigerians in the manner the Buhari administration has handled the virus emergency which already killed 28 persons, with cases of positive persons still rising.

Mahamadou Issoufou, President of Niger Republic is the chairman of ECOWAS commission.

Recently too, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana has received applause for handling the pandemic better than his Nigerian counterpart.

As at Thursday April 22, South Africa recorded the highest number of cases in the continent with 3,685 and 28 deaths, followed by Ghana with 1,154 cases, nine deaths and Nigeria with 873 cases and 28 deaths.

The Nigerian neighbor has partly opened his country for businesses after weeks of lock down due to contain the spread of the novel virus.

Ghana is the very first country to do so in the sub-region.

But in his twitter handle on Thursday , Adesina stated that President Buhari was appointed as the Champion to coordinate the fight against the COVID 19, at a teleconference held by all the heads of state from the region on Wednesday.

Adesina said “ECOWAS leaders at an extraordinary summit held by video conference have appointed President Muhammadu Buhari as champion that will coordinate the COVID-19 response in the sub-region.

All the other Presidents will be available to support President Buhari.”