In order to effectively manage the rising number of coronavirus cases in Nigeria, Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN) has called on the Federal Government to ensure that seized and vacant houses are converted to patients’ isolation centers.
This was made known through a statement signed by the Advocacy Network’s President, Festus Adebayo, in which he commends the government but advised that more hands must be on deck to tackle the pandemic.
One of the effective ways of tackling the pandemic, the statement said, is for the government to make available more facilities for the isolation and treatment of infected persons.
‘’Obviously, our health sector, especially the facilities are overwhelmed by this pandemic. So instead of the government allowing these buildings remain idle and unused, it can temporarily convert them to places of isolation and treatment,’’ the statement read in part.
It is worthy of note that the Federal Government, through its anti-corruption agency, EFCC has seized a number of buildings in major cities of the country, belonging to corrupt officials being investigated or prosecuted for looting public funds. Also, there are countless numbers of buildings abandoned or vacant in most of these cities – especially Abuja and Lagos – usually because they are acquired through illicit means or owned by corrupt officials who already have too many.
These buildings, according to Adebayo can become important facilities for fighting covid-19 in Nigeria.
As at 3rd of May 2020, Nigeria already has over 2300 cases and 85 deaths, with more to be announced after ongoing tests are concluded.
‘’Before things get out of hands, the Federal Government should grant access to these unclaimed houses and make the work easier for our health workers,’’ the statement said.
The statement also encouraged real estate developers to participate in the efforts towards successfully managing the pandemic by assisting the government with information about buildings that can be available for such exercises and those that can be temporarily donated for such purposes by their willful and generous owners.
‘’This is a matter of life and death, and we as Nigerians must all come together to help one another. So this calls for extraordinary measures like the ones we are now calling for. Everybody has a role to play in this.’’
Already, the FCT Minister has announced the availability of a five-storey building for isolation and treatment. While commending this idea, Adebayo encouraged more of such and that this should be replicated in other parts of the country.
According to the group which is at the forefront of affordable housing advocacy in Nigeria, this pandemic exposes the weakness of public policies in Nigeria, especially the ones pertaining to public and affordable housing.
The group reemphasized the importance of affordable housing, not only as a means of providing shelter and jobs, but as a means of controlling the spread of diseases and viruses like coronavirus.
‘’We can only hope that the government will maintain its promise and take the provision of affordable housing for Nigerians seriously after this pandemic. We can see how possible it is for countries with mass affordable housing to manage this pandemic though social distancing and staying at home. This has been largely impossible in Nigeria because millions of Nigerians are either homeless or living in slums. So this calls for serious action. It is the responsibility of government to house the poor,’’ the statement appealed passionately.
The group also extended its prayers to those suffering from the virus and wishes them quick recovery.
As Nigeria is set to ease the lockdown, the group advised Nigerians to remain vigilant and protect themselves from contacting or spreading the virus.
