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A former governorship candidate in Oyo State and leading lawyer, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), has urged governments at all levels and Nigerians to prepare for post-coronavirus economic challenges, calling their attention to a possible return of zero federal allocation.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his media aide, Prince Olumuyiwa Akinbiyi, Akintola advised government at all levels to do more in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic with a view to containing its spread in the country and also work out modalities that would minimize the effect of the global crisis on the overall economy of the nation at the end of it all.
While acknowledging the ongoing efforts by the global community to produce cure and vaccines for the virus, he said: “But while we are trusting God for the timely realization of this particular goal, Nigeria and Nigerians must brace up for the challenges ahead especially in terms of getting our economy back on the right track during and after this pandemic era.
“Nigeria, no doubt, is a monolithic economy as our foreign exchange earnings largely come from crude oil export. Now that the amount which a barrel of oil sells in the global market is not up to the cost of production and transportation on the sea, we are in for a big trouble. This manifested last week when money available as allocations to all tiers of government was only a quarter of what was expected to be shared for the month of March. The implication is that we are gradually approaching an era of zero allocation.
“While we are urging the Federal Government and state governors to be proactive in tackling the looming socio-economic danger, it is essential that the current war against COVID-19 is intensified by all stakeholders in view of the fact that the rate at which new cases are being recorded is unacceptable. Furthermore, Nigerians should prioritize strict adherence to global standard of combating Coronavirus as this concerns social distancing, frequent hand washing with soap, use of hand sanitizers among others.”
Akintola called on Muslim faithful in the state to use the opportunity of this year’s fast in the holy month of Ramadan to rededicate themselves to the cause of Allah and humanity.
He said: “Ramadan came at a very critical time of a global pandemic this year and as Muslim faithful observe their fast without an opportunity to observe certain usual activities which are associated with the sacred month, it is imperative for all us to engage in sober reflection and also use the occasion to pray fervently for divine intervention as the whole world needs God (Allah) to save humanity from this pandemic and all other challenges facing us as human beings.”