Coronavirus: Melaye begs Nigerians to act responsibly

Former Nigerian senator, Dino Melaye, has called on Nigerians to be responsible in the nation's fight against coronavirus.

In a taped address posted online on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, Melaye said Nigerians must not politicise the pandemic that is afflicting the entire world.

He urged Nigerians to complement the government's efforts by abiding by all the guidelines set by relevant authorities, especially in regards to rules of personal hygiene, self-isolation and social distancing.

Nigeria has recorded 46 cases of coronavirus in eight states (image used for illustration) [Washington Post] Pulse Nigeria

While also noting that public health affects national development, Melaye called on Nigerians to take it as a collective duty to ensure Nigeria is coronavirus-free.

"Fellow compatriots, Nigerians should not see the fight against coronavirus as a government thing. It is not about government, it is about humanity.

"Public health affects national development; hence, it should not be politicised.

"Every Nigerian should act as if he/she has contacted the virus already and see everyone as a carrier of the virus also.

"So that all of us will see it as our collective duty to make Nigeria coronavirus-free," he said.

Nigeria has recorded 46 cases in eight states - Lagos (30), the Federal Capital Territory (8), Ogun (3), Ekiti (1), Oyo (1), Edo (1), Bauchi (1), and Osun (1).

Melaye called on President Muhammadu Buhari to also lock down Lagos and the FCT to properly contain the spread of the disease in the country that's home to around 200 million people.