By Harry Awurumibe, Head, Abuja Bureau
Information and Culture minister, Lai Mohammed has called for a crisis meeting with Heads of Federal Government-owned information and communications institutions to devise means to educate the rural dwellers on the dangers of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic ravaging the world.
Mohammed disclosed that he has already invited the Heads and Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of the relevant Federal Government media and the Director-General of National Orientation Agency (NOA) for a crucial meeting in his office today to brainstorm on how best to reach people at grassroots on the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
The Minister who spoke at the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 Press Briefing revealed that the Federal Government is not leaving any stone unturned to sensitize the populace about COVID-19, pointing out that all options are on the table including the use of traditional rulers and leaders of religious bodies to ensure an aggressive sensitization of the rural communities.
Mohammed, however, dismissed the idea of engaging town criers in the remote areas of the country in the sensitization efforts, arguing that “town criers would make many people to come together and that will not be good at this time”.
He also said there is no part of the country that the citizens have not heard of the novel Coronavirus pandemic and the need to obey the medical expert’s advice including regular handwashing and social distancing.
