The federal government has explained that the two weeks extension of the first phase of the eased lockdown was to enable the segment of society still not opened to properly prepare to open up.
Speaking to newsmen during Tuesday's daily press briefing, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic, Boss Mustapha said that in the bid to achieve this targeted preparedness for businesses, offices, educational institutions and other institutions of society to gradually open up, the PTF would intensify consultations and engagements with various authorities on how to achieve successful implementation of measures and regulations.
He went further to reveal that part of the engagements and consultations were targeted at ensuring that essential services providers, who had been captured for exemptions in the various regulations and protocols issued get to go about their duties unhindered.
He, however, charged all Nigerians to learn to adapt to the new behavioural and changes required by the COVID-19 reality and the measures introduced to help the country beat the spread of the disease, noting that the outbreak of COVID-19 had changed the world as it used to be known.
“I must also emphasise that the two additional weeks should be utilized by businesses, offices, professional bodies, places of worship, educational institutions, etc awaiting reopening to plan and adopt new strategies under a COVID-19 era in line with the guidelines. Above all, behavioral change is a must for every citizen because COVID 19 has changed the world completely.
“The PTF COVID-19 is committed and determined to continue to provide the required leadership for this national response.
“In the coming days, intense consultations will be deepened with different segments of the society including the state governments, security agencies, religious and community leaders to ensure a coordinated implementation of the measures.
“As I mentioned yesterday, specific directives have been issued to security agencies to strictly enforce the measures. I therefore admonish Nigerians to please observe the restrictions in full.
“I however wish to assure our essential workers such as the frontline medical personnel, the media, the environmental health workers, farmers and agro-related service providers, oil and gas services, aviation, the power sector and a host of others that they will be adequately protected. Your obligation is to always carry a valid means of identification”, he advised.
He also urged Nigerians to delicately balance between safety and economic considerations before the economy was fully reopened, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari’s idea for the extension of the first phase of the eased lockdown was to help the country further contain the spread of COVID-19.
Meanwhile, The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Tuesday night, announced 226 fresh cases of COVID-19 in the country bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 6,401.
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