For the record: The communiqué of Penpushing Media on “The unanswered questions of Covid-19: How seriously prepared is Nigeria?”, issued this day Monday 30th March, 2020.

The Penpushing Media comprising top political office holders, former Governors, traditional rulers and professionals from various fields including the media, having carefully considered the various inputs by all participants during a round table conference and reconciling it with the previous and present government efforts since the outbreak of Covid-19 disease,  came to the conclusion that Nigeria seems to be unprepared for a landfall due to the following reasons:

1. Decadence in the health sector due to years of neglect of the health system by successive administrations.
2. The Covid-19 cases in Nigeria might be underreported or largely undetected still due to insufficient testing kits noting that those being tested are those already showing symptoms while those without symptoms but being tested are only the political class.
3. The hesitation of the government to initiate immediate lockdown of the country’s entry points since the first case was recorded which would have prevented the cycle of community spread as being witnessed presently.

However, the Penpushing Media Roundtable participants noted that  while  it  was  not  time to begin to apportion blames or  to ask questions of who and who did not act promptly said it was  time for clarion call on all Nigerians to rise, support  government efforts and win the fight against coronavirus.

They were of the view that the nation  cannot afford to bungle this second opportunity hence  individual protection must come into play. The  Penpushing  media Roundtable Dialogue participants  therefore recommend the following that :

1. Nigerians should cooperate with the government and all it’s agencies by respecting the self-isolation and stay at home order and every other measures put in place so as to prevent further spread of the virus for our collective good.
2. In the absence of relief materials and other palliative measures from the government, individuals and families should devise a workable strategy in order to cope with the stay at home order.
3. Task forces, security and all law enforcement agencies should employ a high degree of professionalism, civility and decency in the manner they carry out government directives at this critical time recommending that anyone or group caught doing otherwise should be appropriately sanctioned under the law.
4. The private sector and wealthy individuals should invest more in the provision of health infrastructures to entrench an enduring healthcare system.
5. Financial resources should be disbursed transparently and swiftly to ensure that such funds do not end up in pockets of individuals.
6. Governments should continue to sustain ongoing efforts and also increase capacity both in material supplies and personnel.
7. Adequate care and treatment must be made available for all health workers and other service providers who are daily risking their lives for the safety of the nation.
8. The media as part of its social responsibility must be ethical and avoid sensationalism that can be counterproductive even as they stay safe in the course of their duty.