Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala have hailed the both efforts by the Federal and Lagos State governments to check the spread of the Ebola virus disease in the country.
Obasanjo said if the Federal Government had given the same prompt attention to rescuing the abducted Chibok girls, the story could have been different now.
The former President spoke during the opening of the 11th Biennial International Conference on “Drugs, Alcohol and Society in Africa” organised by the African Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse in Lagos.
He, however, called for collaboration among West African countries to contain the virus.
Obasanjo said, “I have always believed that where we have done well, we should be able to commend ourselves whether or not anybody commends us.
“On the other hand, where we have not done well enough, we should be bold and courageous enough to admit our failing, show remorse and make correction.
“The Lagos State Government and the Federal Government separately and collectively have done very well in the prompt measures taken to stem the tide of Ebola disease and to prevent the spread into an epidemic proportion both in Lagos and in the country.
“We should hail these efforts which are in contrast to the efforts and time deployed to rescue the 276 Chibok girls abducted. The difference is clear and the results are obvious.”
While Okonjo-Iweala said that she commends the Nigerian health care professionals who have put their lives on the line to prevent the spread of Ebola in Nigeria.
“I would like to commend the Nigerian health care professionals who have put their lives on the line to prevent the spread of Ebola in Nigeria.
“Their spirit and determination are embodied in the heroic self sacrifice of two women Dr Stella Adadevoh and Nurse Ejelonu who put the wellbeing of all Nigerians ahead of their own when they treated Nigeria’s first case of Ebola and worked to prevent its spread.
“My thoughts are with their families and loved ones as we mourn their passing and celebrate their courage. May they stand as an example to all Nigerians.
“My condolences also to the families of other victims of Ebola. May the Almighty comfort and grant them strength at this difficult time,” she stated.
