President Buhari To Effect Nigerian Governors’ Lockdown Decision On Monday – Nigerian Governors Forum
Chief Press Secretary to a State Governor in Nigeria has said the inter-state lockdown decision taken by the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) is to be effected by President Buhari on Monday.
The governor’s aide made this known to Daily Post on Sunday.
It would be recalled that the NGF had on Wednesday unanimously agreed to the implementation of an inter-state lockdown in the country for the next two weeks to mitigate the spread of the pandemic COVID-19 virus from State to State.
The press secretary explained that the NGF made their position known on Friday to enable the Federal Government to put in place necessary arrangements for compliance.
He noted that;
The governors’ resolution is to curtail the spread of Coronavirus. The federal government has the power to shut inter-state borders, hence the request to Mr. President.
The two weeks’ lockdown will be announced by Mr. President. It’s a done deal. However, he will list exemptions and give Nigerians other important information.
The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) had also recently asked President Muhammadu Buhari to put a stop to inter-state movements.
The Governors’ position was contained in a letter addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation/Chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha.
Signed by the NGF chairman and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, the forum requested for free but restricted movement within states.
In the letter, they requested free movement of essential supplies such as food, beverages, medical and pharmaceutical, petroleum supplies and agricultural products.
Others are internal free movement but restrictions on large gatherings and assemblies, overnight curfews, flights ban and compulsory use of face masks/coverings in public.
As at Saturday night, Nigeria had recorded 1182 cases of COVID-19 and 35 deaths but the figure could be higher considering the situation in Kano.
The Deputy Coordinator of Kano State COVID-19 Response Team, Dr. Sabitu Shuaibu who appeared on Channels TV on Saturday, confirmed 640 deaths in the state in one week.
He however refuted claims that all 640 people died of coronavirus, contrary to circulating rumors.
The situation has been compounded by two factors: Suspension of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) operations with no definite date for resumption and hasty burials of victims – without autopsy – in line with Islamic rites.
NCDC has however said the agency only follows state governments’ lead.
Dr Chinwe Ochu, Head of Prevention, Programmes and Knowledge Management at NCDC, clarified that their mandate was to assist on state’s preparedness and response through capacity building, training, guidance and coordination.
Ochu said;
NCDC does not have an office in Kano nor in any state. However, NCDC supports states in setting up public health emergency operations centres run by states to ensure effective coordination of a public health response.
