An NGO, Sabil Charitable Organization, has expressed dismay over non-compliance by Kaduna residents to COVID-19 safety measures put in place to check the spread of the virus in the state.
The Founder of the group, Halimatu Abdul, made this known on Thursday in an interview in Kaduna.
She noted that the situation had made the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to threaten that the government might be forced to lockdown the state again.
A second lockdown will not be funny for residents, Abdul said, and urged residents to embrace all COVID-19 safety protocol.
She also lamented over the nonchalant attitude of some Nigerians to the genuiness of the presence of Coronavirus in the country.
“Some people are ignorant and don’t believe in it especially people in the villages and I am very surprised about this because people are still conducting their businesses as if nothing is happening.”
“Coronavirus pandemic is real. We’re in a very dangerous situation and it is important that people abide by the rules as given by authorities concerned.
“Nigerians are very wonderful people who like to break rules and regulations of the society and I sincerely don’t know why they behave in such manner.
“If you go out, you see people roaming the streets without observing social distancing order or wearing face mask, and I begin to wonder what if they get infected by the virus what would happen?”, she querried.
According to her, during the last lockdown things were so difficult for many residents especially the vulnerables and her organization had to come to the aid of many people.
She added that prior to distribution of palliative to the vulnerables they were enlightened on the need to keep social distance, handwshing using sanitizer, avoiding crowded places and wearing of face masks.
“Many organizations like ours get donations from wealthy individuals and going back to them for assistance on behalf of the people in case of another lockdown will not be easy,” she said.
Speaking on the activities of her organization during the last lockdown, Abdul said apart from the distribution of palliatives, they also talked to women and advised them to remain at home to limit the spread of the virus.
“The distributions of palliative were carried out thrice at different occasions while we observed social distancing.
“One of our Patrons, Mohammed Dawu donated face masks to a school ran by another organization, Human Development Foundation of Nigeria.
“The school has 90 per cent orphans as pupils, while others are destitute, and children of People Living With Disability, among others.
“As soon as schools are opened we will go and distribute the face masks to the pupils,” she said. (NAN)
