EXCLUSIVE: COVID-19 Gaining Traction In An Election Year

On Wednesday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) revealed there were 35 new cases of COVID-19 in the final week of December 2022.

According to the body, 22 people contracted the virus in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), while 10 cases were recorded in Lagos State, two in Delta, and one in Plateau.

Should Nigerians be worried? 

The electoral process is a people-oriented engagement.

It is only possible for voting to be held in Nigeria with a crowd. The crowd power is the primary indicator of an eventual election winner in the country.

The 2023 general election is a contact affair. It will come when coronavirus and its adversities seem to be a thing of history.

But these new virus cases reported two months before Nigerians go to the polls in their numbers have given another colour to the virus that took precious lives in the country.

Now that the infections were recorded between December 24 and 30, 2022, it is brewing up a reminder that the virus is still within us.

Meanwhile, it will be difficult for Nigerians to take precautions in an emotionally tense period like during electioneering.

According to the NCDC, 3,451 people are currently down with the virus, while 259,841 people have been treated and discharged nationwide.

With the strength of the virus becoming energised less than two months before the general election, it is a source of worry to concerned Nigerians and medical and public health experts.

The professional eye

AllNews Nigeria sought the views of James Bamikefa, a top official of the Academy of Medical Health and Education Limited and member of the National Association of Public Health Practitioners Council of Nigeria.

The public health expert said the government seems to be politicising the virus by not being transparent enough, but he alongside his association, is campaigning strongly for self-discipline.

As we count down to the 2023 election, which comes thick and fast, he appealed to Nigerians to take their health seriously because a healthy voter enjoys the dividends of democracy when the eventual political leaders emerge.

“By being political, I mean we have not heard much sensitisation from the government as it should be.

"Look at how we get abreast of the political happenings in the polity”, he stressed.

When our reporter contacted the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), it stressed the need for Nigerians to disinfect frequently touched surfaces regularly to prevent the spread of the virus and other infectious diseases.

“The vaccines remain functional tools for combatting the disease, so we encourage our people to get vaccinated.

"But we need to tell our people that their health is their greatest wealth”, the official who spoke only under anonymity added via the telephone interview. 

“Nigerians should be aware that the virus is still with us and no matter how they want to be involved in the political process this time around, they should not be careless to play with their health.”

Despite several calls to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to have their views on the level of preparedness of the body as coronavirus resurfaces in the general election year, our reporter has yet to receive a response.