COVID-19: Time for Nigeria to act the big brother role in Africa – Archbishop Benjamin

Founder of the Resurrection Praise Ministry, Worldwide, Archbishop Samson Benjamin has called on the Nigerian government led by President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that Nigerians and Africans in China are well taken care of, and evacuated to their various home countries.

The cleric stated this in a statement on Monday, in reaction to reports that Nigerians and some other African nationals were being maltreated in China, and thrown out of their homes and hotel rooms.

A video of some black people, mostly Nigerians had gone viral on social media platforms, showing them being evicted from the living areas by Chinese officials even though they had reportedly tested negative to the deadly coronavirus disease.

The Archbishop, called on President Buhari to ensure that proactive steps are taken to ensure that the Nigerians, and other Africans in China, or any other country outside the continent are not maltreated, but well catered for.

While commending the Nigerian government over steps taken so far on the matter, the cleric suggested that Nigeria, as the reputed giant of African evacuate stranded Africans from China, to Nigeria, and subsequently ensure they get to their respective countries.

The renowned cleric, who is also the president of the Foundation for World Peace and Conflict resolution, also called on the federal government to be proactive and ensure that proper information are disseminated to the people to ensure that people are not fed with what he described as “gangster information”.

He lamented that there was so much fake news on the internet space, and that government needs to do more to ensure people get the right information.

While commending the Ministry of Information for efforts so far taken to inform Nigerians on government’s activities, especially on the coronavirus pandemic, the cleric charged government to also make use of the social media to disseminate accurate information, as it is the means used by purveyors of fake news to spread falsehood.

On drugs and vaccines being developed to combat the coronavirus ravaging the world, the cleric called on Buhari, as well as other African leaders to ensure that Africans are not used as guinnea pigs to test the efficacy of such drugs.

According to him, those who develop the drugs should first use it on themselves and their compatriots, before making it available to others, especially Nigerians.

“Remember that when the developed nations come up with a new technology, like the GSM, they were the first to make use of it, before sending it to Africa. I’m the same way, let them test the drugs on themselves first. After all, they are also being ravaged by coronavirus”.

He also reacted to the announcement on Monday by President Buhari extending the lock down imposed on Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states due to the covid-19 by another two weeks.

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While noting that the action was a necessary move to curtail and defeat the disease, Archbishop Benjamin called on the federal government to ensure that proper arrangements are made to extend palliatives to the poor people in the society.

Benjamin who had been sharing foodstuffs as well as cash to help the poor get over the lockdown, lamented that many Nigerians who depend on daily income for their survival, are suffering terribly, and need government support to make it through the lockdown.

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