The Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the African Union (AU) has inaugurated a response situation room in Nigeria to assist in the ongoing fight against Covid-19.
In a statement by the Nigerian Representative of the Permanent General Assembly of the AU-ECOSOCC, Dr Tunji Asaolu, he said the situation room was set up to support the nation’s fight against Covid-19 and also to promote dialogue on issues about Africa and its future.
He said, ‘This is in view of achieving the AU-ECOSOCC’s mandate, which is primarily to coordinate the participation of all civil societies towards domesticating the decisions of the AU in the member state.
‘In this regards, AU-ECOSOCC Nigeria has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, the Social Development Secretariat of FCT and Thunderbolt Media.
‘Collectively, we will mobilise the participation of CSOs and [v]olunteers to avail us information and data for critical review at the AU-ECOSOCC Nigeria [Covid-19] Response team situation room’.
Asaolu said 62 CSOs, international development partners, and concerned individuals have been mobilised in efforts to sensitise people on preventive measures of Covid-19. He continued that volunteers will monitor the distribution of palliatives by the government so as to advise the council on effective measures to aid the achievement of targets.
He commended the government’s efforts led by President Muhammadu Buhari and other key stakeholders for their proactive approach to tackling the spread and impact of Covid-19 in the country.
He said, ‘The AU-ECOSOCC has been following the activities since the day of the inauguration of Presidential Task Forces on [Covid-19], chaired by Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
‘The establishment of the committee is a way of implementing the Africa Joint Continental Strategy for [Covid-19] Outbreak, which Nigeria is always leading.
‘While commending all these efforts, I wish to appeal to President Buhari to set up/involve ECOSOCC/civil society organisation[s], academia, labour organisations, and [the] private sector in the fights to expedite success’.
Source: Pulse
Photo source: Embassy of Equatorial Guinea
