COVID-19: FG Threatens To Review Ease Of Lockdown

As Nigeria continues with a second phase of the gradual easing of lockdown, the federal government says it would review its ease on lockdown to reopen worship centres following concerns that non-compliance could heighten the risk of Coronavirus transmission.

Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, at the daily briefing on Thursday, stated that implementation of guidelines nationwide and statewide oversight of this second phase of the response to coronavirus is critical.

His words, “The response needs to be decentralized to the local governments level, identifying high burden LGAs and ensuring mapping of adequate support to rapidly trace, test and treat cases.

“States need to drive aggressive campaigns to engage communities in order to address behavior change and debunk misconceptions and stigma. Traditional and religious institutions have a role to play in sensitizing communities about COVID-19,” he said.

While disclosing that in the last couple of days, the task force has received inquiries on some aspects of the guidelines, Mustapha assured all Nigerians that they have been simplified as much as possible and the dissemination has already commenced through the electronic and print media.

As requests for guidelines regarding the restricted opening of centres of worship become more pressing with the approaching weekend, he stated that national guidelines have been shared with states, and federal government expects religious leaders agree to the protocols. 

The SGF said, “Compliance is important so as to avoid unwanted consequences that put the lives of people at risk of contracting COVID-19. We urge utmost caution at all times. The PTF will continue to monitor the overall compliance to the easing of restriction as well as evolution of the outbreak.

“However, we will not hesitate to review as we progress, should the situation warrant, to avoid preventable risks of transmission,” Mustapha said.