A Nigerian health worker based in the United States of America, Mrs. Catherine Williams (nee Onwueme), has called on the Nigerian leaders, especially those in government, to learn the hard lessons thrown up by the prevailing global pandemic. She particularly called on the government to urgently make food available to the masses during the period of the lockdown imposed on various states in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19).
Williams also advised donors of relief packages to go directly to those who need the items, including money, rather than channeling them through the government. She said, with the level of corruption in Nigeria, any donations given to the government for distribution to the needy would end up in the hands of a few individuals who would convert them to their personal use.
She said banks, through the bank accounts of customers, could distribute money to the needy, adding that it was not difficult to know those who need the money through their BVN.
“Any customer with less than N200,000 in their accounts will not be able to survive the lockdown. So, the banks can pay money into their account.
“I am trying to compare what is happening in America with that of Nigeria.
“The United States government made provision for food and there is a price control system here. I heard the prices of gari, rice and all food have increased by up to 500%; how will the poor masses with children survive with a salary of less than N20,000 in two weeks? The danger is that hunger kills faster than Covid-19, because people will be dying of hunger more than the virus.
“I am sure those in government in Nigeria have seen the importance of developing one’s own country. With what is happening, politicians and government officials do not have anywhere to run to. The world is locked down. I think, with what is happening in the world today, our leaders should learn a lesson to shun stealing and looting our money.
“God allowed this virus to go round the world to teach some countries lessons and people that claimed to be the superpower of the world. Now they are all in disarray. After this period, our leaders should know that primitive accumulation of wealth is vanity.
Government and well-to-do Nigerians should assist the masses by using their BVN to pay money into their accounts.”
