By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Association of Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria (ALDIN) has urged Federal and State Governments to provide food and basic necessities for vulnerable persons in the country.

In a statement jointly signed by its President, Mr. Daniel Onwe, and General-Secretary, Mr. Gaius Ogan, in Enugu on Sunday, the association said that “this has become imperative as the country gradually draws close to a total lockdown to check spread of the Coronavirus.”

It noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had put Nigerians in an extraordinarily trying time requiring extraordinary actions.

“Total lockdown, as advised by experts, will provide solution against the impending doom; but then, the government should exercise the required courage to order and enforce a lockdown accordingly.

“However, the fact that majority of Nigerians eke out a living one day at a time should be kept in focus. Therefore, governments at all levels, in collaboration with volunteer organisations, religions bodies and kind hearted individual, should quickly plan for distribution of food and other basic amenities to persons who will need them, no matter where they are, with particular attention on those who are already vulnerable.

“This will give everyone the needed comfort to comply with a total lockdown. There is no time that the saying, ‘prevention is better than cure,’ is more apt than now.

“The cost of maintaining people at home, no doubt, will be much less than the cost treating them of COVID-19,” ALDIN said.

The association also noted with dismay that most of the safety briefings on the Coronavirus do not factor in the peculiarities of persons with disabilities, particularly the deaf, who require sign language interpretation.

“The necessary correction should be taken forthwith by engaging sign language interpreters in all such briefings, as is the case in other countries.

“ALDIN is optimistic that Nigerians, and indeed the world, shall come out of this crisis better people,” it said.