Former Military Governor of the defunct Western Region, Maj Gen David Jemibewon (retd.), at the weekend counselled that the Nigerian government must learn several lessons from the sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the entire world for proper planning for the nation especially in the areas of health and education,
The Former Police Affairs Minister declared that the unfolding events in the last few weeks since the advent of the deadly coronvirus scourage in the country had exposed the state of the nation’s unpreparedness for such emergencies as Nation being considered as the giant of the African Continent
Gen Jemibewon who spoke with news men in Abuja shortly after the distribution of palliatives to the less privileged by the Jemibewon Foundation however said that the outbreak of the strategy pandemic was a wake up call for the country and her citizens to forces together and plan for the future of the country..
He also cautioned that the welfare support and palliatives donated into the government’s coffers at all levels must be judiciously utilised so that the country would not begin probe of resources after the pandemic was over.
According to him, “the government should be alert and take serious responsibilities. Of course, it is very difficult to say this is the way it should be, but the most important thing is that we should learn from experience. I don’t think we have good plans in every respect; education and health
“I think it is too early to say whether the government is applying the donations recived properly or not. However, with the experiences we have had, there is need to make sure that whatever is received on behalf of the people and for the people gets to them. We don’t want a situation whereby after this terrible situation, we will start investigation of what went to what
“I hope that as a country, we will learn some lessons from this, because it appears we never prepared for the future all along. We have passed a period where we had money. now we have no money and we have many needs but we have no means to meet them. This situation gives us the opportunity of a new beginning.
“It gives us opportunity to look into the past and see what we would have done that we didn’t do. I think it is a wakeup call.”
He however urged Nigerians not to panic but rather should adhere strictly with expert instructions to observe to prevent further spread of the deadly coronvirus pendemic in the country
In her remarks, the anchor of the distribution of the Parliatives by the Jemibewon Foundation, Chief (Mrs) Module Jemibewon said that the Foundation decided to cater for the most vulnerable children and adults to cushion the effects of nation’s lockdown and the on going Ramadan fasting on them