Former Nigeria’s Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has advised the Federal Government to temporarily suspend flight links with countries that are currently being ravaged by coronavirus.
In a statement he personally signed today, March 12, Atiku said: “this is a patriotic call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to take every reasonable step to protect the citizens of Nigeria, by temporarily suspending flights to and from such countries, until we build up our ability to contain the corona virus.” Atiku, who was the Presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 election, feared that the economic impact of a widespread infestation of the virus in Nigeria will be catastrophic, and will affect our national security, and status as Africa’s leading economy.
He stressed that the ravages of coronavirus scourge, which has officially been classified as a global pandemic, must not be allowed to test already fragile Nigeria’s economy.
“I urge that every political and any other differences be put aside. On my own part, on this issue, I am first a Nigerian, and I am willing and ready to work with anybody, at anytime, at whatever cost, to ensure the safety of this country, which is the only country we have to call our home, and her peoples.
“We must act now. We must put Nigeria and her citizens first. We must ensure that our national policy is deliberately tailored to protect our greatest national resource, the great Nigerian people.”
