President Muhammadu Buhari is already putting measures in place to handle Nigeria’s socio economic challenges long after the coronavirus would have been eliminated.
This is coming against the background of the global anxiety on what the future holds for humanity post coronavirus pandemic era, particularly in respect of the economy, healthcare, job security, and general wellbeing.
A statement today, May 14 by the special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said: “plans are afoot to tackle weak health systems and infrastructure through establishment of standard laboratories, intensive care units, and isolation centres in all states of the Federation.
“The health infrastructure will eventually be recalibrated for the good of the people, and in readiness for future emergencies.
“The statement said that as long term measure, emphasis will be placed on integrating local content in proven researches in cure, and production of materials in the heath sector.
It said that there is a Fiscal Sustainability Plan to complement the suite of monetary and banking interventions as recently announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Other measures, the statement said, including a mass agricultural programme to be put in place, major rural road construction programme, mass housing programme, large scale installation of residential solar systems, utilizing mainly local materials and expansion of the Social Investment Programme.
“The 2020-2022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the Budget 2020 assumptions and targets have already been revised.
“Time-sensitive expenditures are to be prioritized over less critical spending.
“Extant financial controls are to be strengthened to detect, eliminate and sanction instances of waste, funds misappropriation and corruption.
“The statement said that an economic team, headed by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning has been set up to examine the impact of coronavirus on the economy.It added that economic Sustainability Committee headed by the Vice President to define a post-coronavirus economy for Nigeria.
“Task force set up on free movement of farm produce headed by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.”
