Rights advocacy group under the aegis “Advocacy for People Right and Justice (APRJ) has called on the federal government to ensure that the healthcare facilities in the country are put in shape to enable citizens have proper medical care at this period of coronavirus pandemic.

The National Co-ordinator of the group Victor Giwa, who made this disclosure In a statement on Tuesday made available to TheNigerialawyer(TNL) stressed on “CITIZENS’ ASSESSMENT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS IN HANDLING THE PANDEMIC, RELIEFS EFFORT AND THE ABUSE OF THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS BY SECURITY OPERATIVES.”

He said “the members of our organization have observed with keen interest the development and the effort of the Federal government since the inception of the ravaging COVID 19 epidemic, particularly after the Shutdown proclamation by Mr. President.

“We welcome the effort of the Federal Government towards the immediate response to the situation although the response openly exposed the obvious deficiency in our health care facilities and sector.

“We are also aware that Nigeria has never lacked professional expertise in the basic areas of our life except for exception in particular areas, which include medicine, engineering, science, and others, which are not exclusive to our country.

“We also welcomed the relief efforts of the Federal government to vulnerable Nigerians who will be the worst hit during the first 14 days shut down in Lagos, Abuja, and Ogun; the reliefs effort include the trade money, farmers, money, and other forms of interventions by the Federal government (FG).

While lauding security agencies for their cooperation and active roles they played in ensuring compliance with the stay at home directives at the various States and the general efforts of the Federal Government the organization demands that the Federal Government and the Presidential Taskforce should ensure that :

i. All effort, funds, and resources should be geared toward building more new health facilities as it is seen in other climes, rejig our health facilities in all the State, especially our General Hospitals which are currently in deplorable states, and some are just centers for hosting awaiting ‘death patients’.

ii. That the FG should work together with all States and critical stakeholders irrespective of their political divides to ensure that the citizens cum patients receive adequate care and attention to assist and aid the recovery process.

iii. It is also mandatory that the FG should provide a specific clear and comprehensive insurance policy for all the “Health workers and other first responders’ who are at the forefront of this epidemic.

iv. It will also request that the Special palliate measure should be the device for Citizens welfare which should be handled by a special team comprising specially recommended senior members of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN) Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Muslim Society of Nigeria.

v. It is expected that all hospitals be visited by the presidential Task team to provide them a first-hand assessment to enabled immediate intervention.

vi. We condemn the use of force, abuse, injuries, and death of any citizens of this country especially the reported death of citizens in Kaduna by the ill-trained members of the police force who see any efforts in enforcing ordersas possible test of their lethal weapon

vii. Immediate and adequate compensation should be made to families who have lost their love ones by security operatives who enforcing stay at home order.

“We urge and support the Citizens for the efforts and stamina in confronting these crises at this trying period and we pray and believe that finally, we shall overcome as a Nation,” Victor Giwa stated