As the coronavirus pandemic continue to ravage humanity with over 1.7 total cases and over 109,000 deaths globally, nations have deployed measures to prevent spread and contain existing cases.

In order to prevent spread of the coronavirus in Plateau State, government has put in place proactive measures, one of which is the total lockdown which was ordered by the Governor on Monday 6th April, 2020. The lockdown took effect Thursday Midnight 9th April and expected to run through to Wednesday 15 April, 2020.

Many citizens in the State have supported the total lockdown with few opposing the timing coming at the Easter Period.

Some individuals have kicked against the fumigation exercise which was the reason given for the total lockdown.

Pharmacist Daniel Bott, a Public Affairs Analyst and Commentator lauded the lockdown saying it is in order but opposed the fumigation exercise citing reasons as can be seen his post below;

The weeklong lockdown ordered by the government of Plateau State is in order. Most people agree that it was timely and necessary, even though painful. It is a great precautionary step. Yes, it is economically disruptive, but only the living and healthy can participate in commence. Personally, I see the lockdown as a great step to promote and enhance social distancing.

But fumigating the state? What does it even mean? How did they come up with this crazy idea? What exactly is the purpose of this fumigation? State governors have been very disingenuous in the handling of this situation. Some have “relaxed” the lockdown in their states to enable people attend Jumaat prayers and Easter service. Rivers, Katsina and a few other states have towed this careless path. Kano has watered its roads, as if it was irrigating a garden, calling it fumigation. While we laughed at their folly, we didn’t know that Plateau State was taking feverish notes and learning nonsense from Kano. You can be sure than another governor will be learning from Plateau State. We know these governors. They pick out the most senseless practices for cross learning.

This fumigation is as useless as the p in psychology. Sadly, it is not as cheap as that p in psychology. I do not want to speculate on the cost, but just give it time, soon we will know how the contract was awarded, to whom it was awarded, and at what cost.

Why I think this fumigation is useless, risky, costly venture:

1. We know that the corona virus can live on surfaces for 3 – 5 days. This means that even without fumigation, the virus will die anyway. This means a lockdown lasting one week is more than adequate to rid public places of the virus.
2. What is the logic behind fumigating roads, please? If there are contaminated surfaces, won’t those surfaces be in offices, banking halls, hospitals, homes, churches, mosques, eateries, and other such places? If we really want to fumigate, shouldn’t we target those places?
3. There was a shameful red carpet “flag off” yesterday where about 300 people were in attendance. In attendance were top government people. Knowing how the virus has been headhunting top government people (because they have the resources to travel up and down), it was a needless risk, bringing so many people together. There was no social distancing, whatsoever. The governor, the Gbong Gwom Jos, security officers were within 6 inches of each other. The crowd there was standing shoulder to shoulder.
4. For a state that has not recorded any Covid-19 case yet, what exactly are we fumigating? To my mind, is a shameless waste of scarce public funds. Who authorized this? The House of Assembly has been on recess, not like they are awake even when they are in session. But who is asking questions?
5. Was an environmental impact assessment carried out before this fumigation was done? People have asked questions around this, but have received no answers. What chemicals are being used for this fumigation? How will humans and livestock be affected? How will the environment and the ecosystem be affected? With the rains, you can be sure that the chemicals will run off into wells and streams, the sources of water for most communities in Jos.
6. The US Environmental Protection Agency has guidelines on community fumigation. It has said in very clear terms that community fumigation is not recommended as a precautionary measure for Covid-19 spread. We have seen fumigation carried out in China, Singapore and other places. But in those places, there is evidence of community spread, and perhaps there country-specific guidelines permit it. Fumigation may make sense within their context to reduce the bioburden of the virus. But why fumigate if you don’t have a single case, and there is no evidence of community transmission? Question is, who advised Gov. Simon Lalong to embark on this wasteful venture? The medical and environmental people around him should bury their heads in shame. The governor is a lawyer, he knows no better. But I cringe, knowing that he was either not advised against it, or he was advised to carry it out by medical people. It is a shame. There is a remote possibility that he was advised against it, but he decided to learn from Ganduje rather than learn from experts. And that will be a crying shame.

I am very reluctant to say anything about Plateau State. I avoid praising or criticizing and the reason is simple: I have no desire to be roped into the politics of the state. But on an obvious gaffe like this, I need to make my position very clear.

Covid-19 has changed the world forever. Poor countries like Nigeria, and poor states like Plateau State cannot afford to be financially reckless anymore. Perhaps we always thought we were a rich country. Now we know: we are coming to the days where oil will be a cheap commodity, possible forever. A Federal Government that depends on oil for 90% of its revenue, and a state that depends on the Federal Government for 80% of its revenue, are setting themselves up for excruciating hunger and endless agony.

And when this agony comes, money cannot save the rich, for the problems of the poor will kick down the door of the rich. In local parlance, we say: “we all die here.”

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COVID-19: Pharm. Dan Bott Lauds Total Lockdown, Carpets Plateau Govt Fumigation Decision