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As Dr Fauci said we have a peculiar virus which spreads without physical contact with an infected person, it also spreads from asymptomatic persons, it spreads through surfaces & can survive for hours if not days in good environment

Good news is it can ‘die’ from soap and water
Now we don’t know enough about the virus to talk about local strategies. Does it reinfect those previously infected? Can we develop herd immunity? How do we manage symptoms at scale if the virus new cases keep rising?

Hence the challenge of Nigeria talking about local content
Local content is possible where local capacity exist, for malaria and HIV and indeed all infectious diseases we depend on donor funding for large scale survey.

So we have no local capacity to develop local strategy and models.
If we can’t produce a map of houses in Nigeria with street names and house numbering then you can imagine providing data for modeling infection that is dynamic and mobile.

I think @MBuhari is erring on the side of caution, which in the circumstances appears a wise decision.
For the economy, if the wider global economy is shut down and oil continues to sell at less than 50% of budgeted income it may be in government interest to shut down to reduce demand for forex for imports, looking at how much portfolio investors have withdrawn from our reserves.
LCs of about 3 months are still waiting for value, with China now open and calling for value we will see further erosion of reserves.

We may be using lockdown to wait for improved oil sales (a serious problem) and increase in prices ( a major issue to fund budget).
The easier home grown strategy is to review our economic policies in this shut down period with a view to reduce our vulnerability to global shocks (Excess crude Account, SWF, Fiscal Responsibility comes to mind)

We need to increase state capacity by localizing initiatives
and reducing operational and tactical involvement of the federal government in day to day issues;

expand our socio economic rights as stated in Chapter two of the constitution beautifully named Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles.
We need to make parts of Chapter 2 mandatory and justiciable for states to use oil resources to provide social infrastructure to reduce illiteracy, provide healthcare and ensure security.

We can start with 50% of budget & increase over next 20years or once State IGR covers cost
Time to reimagine Nigeria is Now. Covid provides impetus to localize initiatives, make socio-economic rights mandatory at all levels and reduce Fed. Govt involvement in operational day to day issues

Covid exposed healthcare delivery & unraveled our economy

Let’s fix it. Can we?
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