The Imo State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2019 election, Uche Nwosu has called on the Federal Government to create the Ministry of State (Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management) to complement the efforts of the current Minister, Sadiya Farouk.

He also commended the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, for taking proactive measures to protect the state from Coronavirus pandemic.

Nwosu said the governor had done well by transforming one of the health facilities built and equipped by the wife of the former governor, Nneoma Okorcha, the Wellness Centre into an isolation and treatment centre with state-of-the-art equipment.

“I am optimistic that Imo State is equipped for any eventuality in the issue of the Coronavirus pandemic. Government is a continuum and he has done well by continuing from where his predecessor stopped.

“The governor has shown enviable commitment to the protection of the health of the people of the state. I will also commend the former governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha for his foresight in the building of hospitals in the state, one of which has been converted into isolation and treatment Centre for COVID-19 cases by the Nigerian Armed Forces,” he stated.

According to him, the creation of the additional office of the Minister of State would speed up the delivery of the palliatives of the Federal Government to cushion the effect of Coronavirus popularly known as COVID – 19.

He said that although the Minister has done creditably well especially in the ongoing fight against COVID – 19, the Ministry could better accomplish its mandate at this time by having an additional hand to support Farouk.

Nwosu said in Abuja on Friday that the need to have the office of Minister of State in the Humanitarian and Disaster Management Ministry became imperative to meet the growing humanitarian needs occasioned by the outbreak of the COVID-19 and avert a possible humanitarian crisis.

He said:

“I want to commend President Muhammadu Buhari for rising up to the occasion which, no doubt, has mitigated the spread of the virus and the country. But the Coronavirus pandemic has thrown up humanitarian issues that need to be tackled with equal zest and
commitment.

“Naturally, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs comes handy at this time and the Minister, Sadiya Farouk has done very well in managing the humanitarian challenges. But the Ministry will deliver better if she is assisted.

“So, there is urgent and compelling need to have a junior Minister that will facilitate what the substantive Minister is doing. The task is enormous and can be best handled when another competent hand is engaged.”

Nwosu, however, lauded the President, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), for rising up to the occasion in the management of the Coronavirus pandemic.

While commending the President for providing the leadership at a very trying period, the APC chieftain that:

“Many countries didn’t expect that Nigeria will stand strong against this virus given the status of our healthcare system but the country has been stirred by astute leadership to rise up to the needs of the time.”

Nwosu, however, cautioned against hate speeches and enjoined Nigerians to eschew all forms of hatred and bitterness and come together to combat the pandemic.

He said:

“This is not the time to spread fake and hate news, it is a time to show love as a people, a time to come together and stand together to defeat this virus. With what the government is doing and all that is required of us as citizens is to queue behind our leaders and support the various policies put in place to fight this deadly virus.”