Nigeria’s only female Olympics gold medallist, Chioma Ajunwa-Opara has praised Nigeria health workers over their consistent and efficient fight against Coronavirus also referred to as COVID-19.

Chioma, 1996 Olympics Long Jump gold winner at the Atlanta Games, described the health workers, doctors and personnel in the sector as the heroes of the fight against COVID-19.

“Our medical doctors, nurses and all the personnel in the health sector in Nigeria have demonstrated once more their professional acumen, personal sacrifice and observation of ethical principles in the way and manner they have handled the spread and management of Coronavirus also referred to as COVID-19.

“They are the heroes of this fight against COVID-19. They risk their lives, sacrifice everything including their comfort to save Nigerians from this dreaded virus. They have demonstrated to the whole world that with commitment and professionalism, no situation is insurmountable.

“Despite exposing themselves to the dangers of the virus and working far beyond their schedule each day, the health workers in this country have shown Nigerians and the global community that Nigeria is indeed a blessed country.

“We should not forget in a hurry how these same set of people fought the Ebola virus to a stand still when it came up four years ago.

“It is on this basis that I call on the federal, state and local governments to spare no efforts in ensuring the empowerment, encouragement and comfort of these heroes,” she said.

On the ongoing lockdown and restriction of movement by the federal government in FCT, Lagos and Ogun states, the Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP called on Nigerians to be patient and obey the government directives as they were targeted towards saving lives.

“While accepting that things will be very much difficult during this period, she advised Nigerians to remain indoor as the lockdown has contributed in no little measure in curtailing spread of the virus.

“Last week, the Federal government announced restriction of movement in some states and even some states governments adopted same mechanism in order to reduce or checkmate the spread of COVID-19. This rule in as much as it is discomforting, was intended to save Nigerians from this dreaded virus.

“Therefore, I want to appeal to all Nigerians to fully comply with the sit-at-home order. It is only someone who is alive that will go out but now that such is inimical not only to you as an individual but to the entire country, let us bear with the government at this point and trust them to get us out of this situation by the grace of God.

“Nigerians are suffering severely as a result of this but we should not forget the saying that when you fight for your land empty handed, the man who holds yam will be cultivating. Let us trust in our government to do the best at this point and save us all from this virus,” he concluded.