Former Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chike Ihekweazu, has reflected on the challenging decision to implement a lockdown in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic, calling it a difficult choice.
Ihekweazu, now an assistant director general at the World Health Organization (WHO), was leading the NCDC when the pandemic struck, significantly impacting the country’s economic activities.
In a recent appearance on Channels Television’s Hard Copy, Ihekweazu recounted the circumstances surrounding the lockdown decision.
“It came with a lot of responsibility and anxiety. Many aspects of our country are challenging,” he said during the Friday broadcast.
Following the lockdown, which saw the closure of businesses, schools, and public spaces, then-President Muhammadu Buhari appointed former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha to head the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 response.
Ihekweazu, who appeared on the program with his wife Vivianne, praised the former president for his trust in the PTF. He noted that this trust was instrumental to the group’s effectiveness.
“The key was that we had a president who set up the PTF and allowed us to operate independently. He trusted the leadership he appointed,” Ihekweazu stated. “In contrast, many other countries had interventionist presidents who tried to micromanage the response. It was beneficial that President Buhari appointed Boss Mustapha and empowered him to lead the response.”
Despite Nigeria’s success in managing the pandemic, Ihekweazu acknowledged that the lockdown was only part of the overall effort. “When discussing the lockdown, it’s important to recognize that it was only half of the story,” he said. “Significant work by the PTF and other agencies was crucial in controlling the disease.”
Ihekweazu also admitted that convincing some state governors about certain policies was a challenge during the pandemic.
Vivianne Ihekweazu highlighted the issues of misinformation and disinformation that emerged during the crisis, advocating for improved media literacy.
She emphasized the need for better communication systems in Nigeria to effectively reach and inform the public.