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| Fumigation Personnel during the official flag off of Fumigation of Plateau by Governor Simon Lalong on Friday |
Opinion: Fumigation of Plateau State is
useless, risky, wasteful venture – By Dr. Daniel Bott
The week long
lockdown ordered by the government of Plateau State is in order. Most people
agree that it was timely and necessary, even though painful. It is a great
precautionary step. Yes, it is economically disruptive, but only the living and
healthy can participate in commence. Personally, I see the lockdown as a great
step to promote and enhance social distancing.
But
fumigating the state? What does it even mean? How did they come up with this
crazy idea? What exactly is the purpose of this fumigation? State governors
have been very disingenuous in the handling of this situation. Some have
"relaxed" the lockdown in their states to enable people attend Jumaat
prayers and Easter service. Rivers, Katsina and a few other states have towed
this careless path. Kano has watered its roads, as if it was irrigating a
garden, calling it fumigation. While we laughed at their folly, we didn't know
that Plateau State was taking feverish notes and learning nonsense from Kano.
You can be sure than another governor will be learning from Plateau State. We
know these governors. They pick out the most senseless practices for cross
learning.
This
fumigation is as useless as the p in psychology. Sadly, it is not as cheap as
that p in psychology. I do not want to speculate on the cost, but just give it
time, soon we will know how the contract was awarded, to whom it was awarded,
and at what cost.
Why I think
this fumigation is useless, risky, costly venture:
1. We know
that the corona virus can live on surfaces for 3 - 5 days. This means that even
without fumigation, the virus will die anyway. This means a lockdown lasting
one week is more than adequate to rid public places of the virus.
2. What is
the logic behind fumigating roads, please? If there are contaminated surfaces,
won't those surfaces be in offices, banking halls, hospitals, homes, churches,
mosques, eateries, and other such places? If we really want to fumigate,
shouldn't we target those places?
3. There was
a shameful red carpet "flag off" yesterday where about 300 people
were in attendance. In attendance were top government people. Knowing how the
virus has been headhunting top government people (because they have the
resources to travel up and down), it was a needless risk, bringing so many
people together. There was no social distancing, whatsoever. The governor, the
Gbong Gwom Jos, security officers were within 6 inches of each other. The crowd
there was standing shoulder to shoulder.
4. For a
state that has not recorded any Covid-19 case yet, what exactly are we
fumigating? To my mind, is a shameless waste of scarce public funds. Who
authorized this? The House of Assembly has been on recess, not like they are
awake even when they are in session. But who is asking questions?
5. Was an
environmental impact assessment carried out before this fumigation was done?
People have asked questions around this, but have received no answers. What
chemicals are being used for this fumigation? How will humans and livestock be
affected? How will the environment and the ecosystem be affected? With the
rains, you can be sure that the chemicals will run off into wells and streams,
the sources of water for most communities in Jos.
6. The US
Environmental Protection Agency has guidelines on community fumigation. It has
said in very clear terms that community fumigation is not recommended as a
precautionary measure for Covid-19 spread. We have seen fumigation carried out
in China, Singapore and other places. But in those places, there is evidence of
community spread, and perhaps there country-specific guidelines permit it.
Fumigation may make sense within their context to reduce the bio-burden of the
virus. But why fumigate if you don't have a single case, and there is no
evidence of community transmission? Question is, who advised Gov. Simon Lalong
to embark on this wasteful venture? The medical and environmental people around
him should bury their heads in shame. The governor is a lawyer, he knows no
better. But I cringe, knowing that he was either not advised against it, or he
was advised to carry it out by medical people. It is a shame. There is a remote
possibility that he was advised against it, but he decided to learn from
Ganduje rather than learn from experts. And that will be a crying shame.
I am very
reluctant to say anything about Plateau State. I avoid praising or criticizing
and the reason is simple: I have no desire to be roped into the politics of the
state. But on an obvious gaffe like this, I need to make my position very
clear.
Covid-19 has
changed the world forever. Poor countries like Nigeria, and poor states like
Plateau State cannot afford to be financially reckless anymore. Perhaps we
always thought we were a rich country. Now we know: we are coming to the days
where oil will be a cheap commodity, possible forever. A Federal Government
that depends on oil for 90% of its revenue, and a state that depends on the
Federal Government for 80% of its revenue, are setting themselves up for
excruciating hunger and endless agony.
And when
this agony comes, money cannot save the rich, for the problems of the poor will
kick down the door of the rich. In local parlance, we say: "we all die
here."
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