A Nigerian academic with experience in public service, Dr Joe Abah has commended the Federal government for taking prompt precautions in detecting the possible spread of the deadly Corona virus among Nigerians.
The public analyst took to his verified Twitter handle on Sunday, saying that the Nigerian airport is doing what the “saner climes”, the US and UK are not doing in terms of addressing the scourge, which has spread to at least 48 countries.
Based on his findings, Dr Abah believes that Nigeria is more prepared against the Corona virus than USA and United Kingdom.
The respected public figure narrating his experiences in a thread, pointed out that throughout his travels and stay in the United States and the UK since the outbreak of the deadly virus, he has not come across any scanning exercise.
He expressed that contrary to many people’s expectation, Nigeria has taken more precautionary measures against the virus than the more developed countries.
See the thread of his tweets below:
@DrJoeAbah – In the last 2 weeks, I have used the Abuja International Airport twice, London Heathrow Airport four times and Washington Dulles Airport twice. I also used the London Underground trains twice. I only saw precautionary preventive efforts against #COVID19 was in Nigeria. Thread…
Traveling out of Abuja Airport, you are screened by a thermal imaging machine, which you may not notice. Coming back into Abuja, you are given a form to fill while still in the plane. The form collects your contact details, where you’ve been and your recent health status.
When you land, a health worker checks that you fully completed the form. If you didn’t, you are pulled aside and made to fill it. Once you pass the heath worker, there are signs asking whether you have been to China recently. Another health worker is watching the thermal images.
At Immigration, all the Immigration, DSS and FAAN officials are all wearing face masks. There was nothing of such at Heathrow. At Dulles, an Immigration officer only asked me when last I visited China and took my finger prints. I was the one that asked for a hand sanitiser.
Having been at airports in “saner climes” where there were no visible screenings and in packed London Underground trains where every sneeze is viewed suspiciously, I am encouraged by the efforts that @NCDCgov and @Fmohnigeria are making to protect us all. Good morning.
Nigerians are unique. Because we are screening for #COVID19, screening is ineffective ba? Our handling of Ebola was recognized as world class. If I had reported that UK and USA were screening but Nigeria wasn’t, what do you think Nigerians would have said? Ideas below please…😂
More reactions from Nigerians on Twitter
If only our journalists will act with fear of God and be professional in the discharge of their duty, many of the Nigeria challenges would be well manage by government and her agents. – Olatunji O.R
Journalism is not the problem. Partisan-Journalism is. Most Nigerian journalists are partisan. – Adeyemo Olakunle
I don’t understand why some Nigerians don’t want to believe anything good can come out of Nigeria. Even when the good is starring at them in the face, they will always live in denial. God help us – Adebimpe Mustapha
The facilities are available all over the country. I was at the IDH, Yaba, Lagos during the Ebola crisis. I am personally impressed by the response put in place in hospitals in strategic locations across the country. – Obatunde Olaďapo
I had to say this yesterday. Even the airports in the US have no screening going on but because everything Buhari has to be bad, we suddenly cannot manage COVID-19 when we could manage Ebola. – Osahan
Travelers coming in from high risk countries should be quarantined according to the set standards. I’m not going to whittle down the efforts made by the government. It’s plausible but it’s not encouraging. We can do more. Thank you sir – CayCay
