Nigeria not ready for full reopening of economy — FG

The Federal Government has said that Nigeria is not yet ready for full opening of the economy and tough decisions have to be taken for the good of the greater majority. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman, Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, said this on Monday in […]

The Federal Government has said that Nigeria is not yet ready for full opening of the economy and tough decisions have to be taken for the good of the greater majority.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman, Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, said this on Monday in Abuja at the 33rd joint national briefing of the Taskforce.

The government announced the extension of the current phase of eased restriction for another two weeks during which stricter enforcement and persuasion measures will be pursued.

Mustapha also said that the reality is that in spite of the modest progress made, any further relaxation will only portend grave danger for our populace.

READ: FG extends lockdown in Kano, orders security agents to ensure stricter compliance

“Any relaxation will only portend grave danger for our populace. Advisedly, the current phase of eased restriction will be maintained for another two weeks during which stricter enforcement and persuasion measures will be pursued,” he said.

He said the PTF share the citizens pains but that the future is in the hands of every Nigerian, stressing that future decisions will depend greatly on the people’s compliance.

He said, “Based on the recommendations of the PTF, Mr. President has approved the measures, exemptions, advisories and scope of entities allowed to reopen under phase one of the eased locked down, shall be maintained across the federation for another two weeks effective from 12.00 midnight today (18th May, 2020 to 1st June, 2020);

“intensifying efforts to “tell (communicate), trace (identify) and treat (manage)’ cases; elevating the level of community ownership of non-pharmaceutical interventions; maintain the existing lockdown order in Kano for an additional two weeks;

“Imposition of precision lockdown in states, or in metropolitan/high-burden LGAs, that are reporting a rapidly increasing number of cases, when the need arises.”

The PTF Chairman said this would be complemented with the provision of palliatives and continued re-evaluation of the impact of the interventions; and aggressive scale up of efforts to ensure that communities are informed, engaged and participating in the response with enhanced public awareness in high risk sstates.

He said that for sustainability of the gains recorded, the PTF shall continue to support states by developing guidelines to shape decision-making for future steps in the response and aggressively scale up efforts to ensure effective community information.

He said that these steps will help consolidate the gains made so far, and position the country to effectively overcome the pandemic.