COVID-19: Nigerians have exploitative spirit … FG can’t do anything about hike in prices of items, says SGF

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has stated there is nothing the federal government can do about complaints from people that some businesses are cashing in on the coronavirus pandemic in the country at the detriment of Nigerians. 

The pandemic had been trailed by complaints from several quarters that many business outfits in the country have been exploiting the situation by hiking prices of their goods and services unnecessarily.

Such complaints have been directed at the federal government. But speaking on Thursday during a press briefing by the Presidential Task Force on the disease in Abuja, the SGF said it is unfortunate many would take advantage of the crisis. 

His words: “Government cannot do anything about profiteering. And that is the negative spirit we have as a people.

“In the midst of a crisis, we want to maximise our profit. I know that we have this compassionate spirit as Nigerians, but sometimes we also have this exploitative spirit, that we take advantage of crisis in order to maximise profit.

“The Nigerian person as an individual has this compassion to care for his brother or sister. But when it comes to business, the exploitative spirit manifests itself like coronavirus manifests itself. So, there is nothing government can do about it.”

Mustapha went on to remind Nigerians similar scenario played out in the country during the Ebola and Polio outbreaks.

He, however, called on those indulging in such acts to refrain from exploiting others, stressing it’s inhuman.  

“But we are only appealing to their conscience, that this is not the time for exploitation. This is the time for us to show compassion,” he said.