COVID-19: ASUU charges FG, states to ensure food, electricity availability

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Sequel to the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown in several parts of Nigeria, the Academic Staff Union of Universities has urged both the Federal and state governments to make basics needs, such as foods and electricity available for the masses during the lockdown period.

The academic union said unless provisions were made for essential materials, the lockdown of the entire country may be counterproductive.

Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, in a statement in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, said there must be a reasonable supply of electricity, water and unbroken chain of food items.

The statement says, “access to electricity, running water, unbroken chain of food supply, and availability of other essential items should be key components of the knockdown policy.

“Unless the people’s survival is factored into the equation, governments may be courting an uncontrollable regime of rebellion which may be counterproductive to the cause of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.

“It can be argued that no issue has ever brought humanity so close for many decades as recently done by COVID-19.”

According to ASUU, the lesson in all of this is that more than ever before, the world has come to understand that issues of health and safety know no territorial boundary.