COVID 19: Presidency Mulls Fresh Total Lock-down

By Fola James

The Presidential Task Force, PTF on Covid 19 has warned that the federal government is considering another total lock down of the country due to the spiraling number of infected persons.

This was disclosed on Tuesday by the chairman of the Task force, Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the federation, during the daily briefing by members of the taskforce.

The SGF had earlier met with heads of security agencies in the country on how to enforce full compliance, after Governor Nasir el Rufai of Kaduna state accused them of frustrating the no movement order imposed three months ago by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC has expressed worries as the virus spread like wild fire.

The agency disclosed on Monday that 29, 286 persons are now infected aside the 654 Nigerians that have died of the global pandemic.c

Mustapha had last week expressed his frustration with the attitude of Nigerians in complying with safety protocols.

The federal government had also recently lifted ban on air travel worsening fears of increasing number of infections.

Mustapha has warned on Tuesday that, “Of recent, we have witnessed a high rate of positive cases especially among people in authority. This has a direct impact on governance and security of our nation. We urge that vigilance and care should be exhibited by all Nigerians, irrespective of status.

This virus does not discriminate and the PTF shall keep sustaining its sensitisation messaging.”

He said fresh lockdown is among various options being considered to flatted the curve of the pandemic.

The duty of the Task force is to protect the lives of Nigerians and “To achieve that, if it means to lock down again, we will not shy away from that responsibility. We will recommend to the President who will look at the report and take a decision on our recommendation. What happens in the next two three weeks will determine what we will do.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirka has warned that VIP aides will not be allowed into the airports as local flights resume on Wednesday.

These include security aides of state governors, ministers and other top government officials, who will now be turned back at the gates leading to the airports.