COVID 19: UN Scores FG High, S/Africa Struggling

By Fola James

Some Nigerians have expressed their frustration over the ongoing effort of the federal government to contain the novel corona virus pandemic, but from unusual quarters, came yesterday, for the Buhari-led administration, accolade that so far the situation has been well managed.

At least three persons have died of the disease with over 200 persons now tested positive for the deadly virus, according to the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC.

Among those now carrying the virus are notable government officials, including President Muhammadu Buhari chief of staff, Abba Kyari.

Three state governors, Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state and Nasir el Rufai of Kaduna state are among state officials that have tested positive.

The NCDC said it’s still tracing over 6000 others persons to know their status.

But far away in the United States of America, the Secretary General of the United Nations, UN Antonio Gutteres has commended the federal government for taking proactive measures to stop the disease from spreading across the country.

He said the world and indeed, Africa can draw a lesson from Nigeria on how to contain the virus.

While speaking at a virtual news briefing in New York, the United States on Thursday, Gutteres said Nigeria has shown capacity to arrest the killer virus.

The UN scribe singled out Nigeria as one of the developing countries that have “shown a remarkable capacity to respond to the coronavirus.”

He said Nigeria has shown to other countries in African battling the disease, that the disease can be stopped form spreading.

Guterres said “I have to say this; some of these developing countries have shown a remarkable capacity to respond.

I was quite impressed to see, for instance, Nigeria putting in place and immediately establishing a hospital.

And I saw difficulties in countries that are much more developed to do quickly the same.”

Close to 8000 persons have already tested positive for the virus in Africa and over 360 have died through the virus.

South Africa has the highest number of cases in the continent, according to UN figures.