COVID-19: Femi Kuti calls on Nigerian govt to bolster infrastructure

Kuti was speaking during a live Instagram session when he said that the Nigerian healthcare system was grossly inadequate to provide quality treatment in a time of crisis. He said poor people and health professionals had to be prioritised when relief funds were being allocated.

Nigeria's economy is expected to contract by up to 6.9% due to a decrease in export revenue. This is according to the World Bank's Africa’s Pulse report released on 9 April. The report says sub-Saharan Africa will experience a recession in 2020 with GDP expected to decrease between 2.1 and 5.1%.

Kuti went on to condemn the Nigerian police for excessive violence when enforcing COVID-19- restrictions. According to a recent report by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), law enforcers have killed 18 people in Nigeria since a lockdown was announced on 30 March.

"This is the time for the government to urgently go all out to fix the healthcare system and also let health-care workers be proud of their profession," he said. "I am seeing so much hunger and sorrow in the land. I think it’s important to not just complain but also give solutions. This is the time to completely overhaul this country and inspires us to want to be part of this great change."

The son of Afrobeat progenitor Fela Kuti also gave the government advice on how it could get things done.

"Employ young boys and girls. Let them clean the drainage system. The rains are coming. All the roads and drainage systems should be fixed. Once you give them work, give them the masks and suits so they don't spread or contract the virus. Let's not let this coronavirus make our situation worse," Kuti, who cancelled his North American tour on 31 March, said.

On 20 April, Nigeria had 627 confirmed coronavirus cases and 21 deaths.