President Buhari has approved a two-week extension of the current phase of the gradual lockdown ease, effective from today 18th May to 1st June, 2020.
Chairman of Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), announced this during the Presidential Task Force (PTF) COVID-19 daily briefing on Monday.
According to the Chairman, the current phase of the lockdown ease put in place yielded results and require consolidation, hence the reason for the extension.
Mustapha said;
Based on the recommendations of the PTF, Mr. President has approved the following:
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).
He added;
We will intensity efforts to communicate, trace and manage cases; elevating the level of community ownership of non-pharmaceutical interventions; continue to maintain the existing lockdown order in Kano for an additional two weeks; and 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.
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 states.
Mustapha noted;
In spite of the modest progress made, Nigeria is still not ready for full reopening of the economy. Specific directives have been issued to security agents to ensure adherence to the guidelines, especially adherence to the curfew, ban on interstate movement and use of face mask.
On his part, the Ministry of Health, Osagie Ehanire stated that Lagos, Kano and Borno account for 52% of COVID-19 related deaths in the country.
He asserted that mortality in Sokoto and Kano states has significantly reduced.
Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) also said the biggest challenge is how to ensure small businesses open safely.
He said;
Many people still doubt what is going on and we all need to constantly engage with them.
