TheCable

The South-West Group of Online Publishers (SWEGOP) has called on governors in the region to urgently make provisions for conducting of random coronavirus tests among residents in major cities.

Olayinka Agboola and Remi Oladoye, the group’s chairman and public relations officer respectively, gave the advice on Wednesday, saying coronavirus may have caused more damages than what is known.

The group, which alleged that coronavirus tests have been selective and conducted mostly for political leaders, said conducting random tests would help the governors to know the actual state of the spread of the disease in the region.

It also said the move will help the state governments to ascertain the true figure of those who might have been affected and also allow them prepare for the challenges ahead.

“It has come to our notice that what is presently going as far as Coronavirus test is concerned is a selective testing of political leaders,” it said in a statement.

“We are therefore calling on the state governments in the South West of Nigeria to intensify efforts in making the test available in some key areas across major towns, in order to penetrate the grassroots and the people there who generally do not have any way of being tested.

“With the new cases of Coronavirus victims in the states except Ondo, it is obvious that we have a serious issue on our table and the only way to battle it is to be more proactive and for all hands to be on deck.”

The group commended the state governments for the precautionary measures that have been put in place so far and also hailed health workers for their commitment and sacrifices.

It also called on the general public to support the government and health workers “in this trying time”.