Written by Rafiat Atanda

It's no longer news that Coronavirus, an infectious disease that started in Wuhan, is spreading in an increasingly alarming rate all over the world. According to the World Health Organisation, the virus already has its footprints in over 169 countries and territories with at least 8,778 recorded deaths and 209,000 infections. Scarily, the numbers keep skyrocketing on a daily basis. However, to minimise the risk of infection, countries all over the world are taking measures such as: enforcing self-quaratine, shutting down of schools, canceling international conferences, games and events, and so on.

In Nigeria, the first coronavirus case was reported on the 27th of February and the number has risen to 12. Although this number is significantly small when compared to the outlandish spread of the virus in other parts of the world, yet Nigeria can not sleep with its eyes closed. Unless it pays attention to the overwhelming masses that make a large part of its population- the market men and women, as well as children in semi-urban and rural areas- Nigeria might surprisingly match side-by-side with the numbers from other parts of the world and even surpass them.

I know a number of experts have recommended regular handwashing, sanitising with an alcohol based hand sanitizer, practising social distance, etc. as ways to minimise the spread of the virus. I am, however, of the opinion that for a country like Nigeria, communication has been partial, leaving out the vast majority of people who are unlettered. For the most part, information dissemination on coronavirus in the country has been in the English Language. We cannot forget too soon that we are a heterogeneous people and even though English Language is our official language, illiteracy still remains one of the key problems Nigeria is grappling with. This sorts of leave the traders out, and lets them erroneously nurse the thought that coronavirus is for the elites and they are immune to it. Also, public and partially elevated private school children are not being targeted in communication. We are all at a greater risk, considering this population caters to our needs, directly or indirectly.

Therefore, for Nigeria to minimise the risk of infection, it is pertinent that traders (market men and women) and children who live in well populated and rural areas are well educated on the virus and its impact on the world. This means that information dissemination should not just be in English; it should be rendered in indigenous languages, too.

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