Traditional rulers close ranks with CACOVID to halt spread of COVID-19

LAGOS, Nigeria – As part of efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, the private sector Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID), has joined forces with traditional rulers and community leaders to educate and create awareness so as to halt the spread into  local communities.

Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi (Kusenla III), The Elegushi of Ikate Kingdom and Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotobi, The Ayangburen of Ikorodu are among the traditional rulers who have  thrown their weight behind CACOVID’s community sensitization efforts in Lagos State. 

Due to the influence, position of power and high regard accorded traditional rulers in their communities, CACOVID recognizes their role as instrument in mobilizing and inspiring positive actions among the people and ultimately curbing spread of the virus. 

Speaking on this initiative, Mr. Amaechi Okobi, a member of the CACOVID operational committee and Group Head, Corporate Communications, Access Bank Nigeria, revealed that “this move is part of CACOVID’s efforts to limit community spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria.

“Community spread has been identified as the major means by which COVID-19 spreads, hence the need to fllatten the curve by educating communities hence CACOVID is going through traditional rulers and community leaders. CACOVID is committed to its goal of eradicating COVID-19 from Nigeria, and we are ready to do that by every means possible”, he said. 

On their part, the traditional rulers expressed optimism that the efforts of CACOVID will pay off in the fight against the virus. They also commended the Coalition for their work and assured of their endorsement, full participation, and support in the eradication of COVID-19 from their various communities and kingdoms.

The traditional rulers and community leaders showed their commitment to the fight against COVID-19 through demonstration of proper hand washing and went a step further to educate the community chiefs on social distancing and other guidelines for limiting the spread of COVID-19. 

They also vowed to help in the distribution of CACOVID relief items in their communities to help cushion the effects of the lockdown and restriction on movement.

The Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) is partnering with the Federal Government, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO),  to eradicate COVID-19 from Nigeria. 

This Coalition is tasked with pulling resources across industries to provide technical and operational support while also providing funding and building advocacy through aggressive awareness drives.

This will be achieved by collaborating with the government to boost preparedness of private and public healthcare facilities to respond to the crisis by providing funds to set up several ultramodern labouratories to test for COVID-19, isolation and treatment centers in all geo-political zones of Nigeria; aggressively increasing general public awareness, education and buy-in to prevent panic and resulting chaos.