Gbenro Adesina
A Medical Geographer at the Department of Geography, University of Ibadan, (UI), Dr Tolulope Osayomi on Sunday April 12, 2020 stated that the lockdown of Lagos and Ogun States as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is very significant to the prevention of Coronavirus to other states in Nigeria.
The Medical Geographer, who has been mapping the transmission of the virus in Nigeria since the Italian index case, stated that the lockdown in the affected areas would ultimately halt transmission, urging the government to ensure that inter-state vehicular movement is prohibited stopped except for transportation of essential goods.
Dr Osayomi advised that governments must pump enough palliatives to the vulnerables in Lagos, Ogun and Abuja to encourage observance of the stay at home directive.
In a released entitled, “Understanding the Geography of Transmission of COVID-19 in Nigeria”, Dr Osayomi, who advocated for reasonable palliative to these states and FCT, pointed out that there should be equitable distribution to indigent and vulnerable population.
Osayomi said, “Lagos, the country’s economic capital has over 50 per cent of the country’s cases while the administrative capital, FCT, accounts for a little over 20 per cent of the total. In the light of the fact that Covid-19 is a highly transmissible disease, it is very likely that significant proportion of the country ‘population will be susceptible to infection.
“Thus, a careful examination of the geographical distribution and the possible underlying factors of Covid-19 in Nigeria is fundamental to its prevention and control. Given its immediate public attention and the very strong sense of urgency the matter deserves, the paper makes an attempt to comprehend the spatial epidemiology of this newly emergent disease.
“Preliminary findings show that the disease incidence is increasing in states with large population size, with urban settlements, high vehicle ownership, relatively good transport networks. These findings might justify the lockdown extension in some states particularly Lagos, Osun and Ogun states, and enforce the implementation of physical distancing and other safety measures and provision of palliatives to enable people to stay at home.
“Ban on large gatherings and heavy vehicular movement should be strictly enforced in the entire country.
“NCDC, in partnership with mobile service providers, should provide a three digit toll free number for the public to call or text in any event.
“Enforce a limit on the number of passengers public transport operators can convey and free and mass distribution of face masks and hand sanitisers” he stated.
