Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation, says COVID-19 outbreak is far from over in Nigeria.
Speaking at the briefing organised by the presidential task force on COVID-19 which he chairs, Mustapha said the increase in number of COVID-19 patients is worrisome.
Nigeria currently has 627 COVID-19 patients, 86 were detected on Sunday, the highest number of cases discovered in Nigeria in a single day.
Mustapha appealed to Nigerians to comply with the lockdown directive, saying the federal government is determined to “flatten the curve”.
“Given the increase in the number of confirmed cases in the last week, the PTF remains conscious of the fact that we are far from the end of this outbreak in Nigeria. We, therefore, must focus even more vigorously on our strategy of increasing testing, isolating confirmed cases, following up with contacts of cases and managing confirmed cases to recovery,” he said.
“The significant increase in the number of cases and distribution across states underscore the importance of remaining focused as citizens and as a nation because of the enormity of the challenges ahead.
“This is the time for all hands to be on deck so that the PTF can improve on its delivery. We must all come together because we face a common enemy and potential risk. We must flatten the curve at all cost and restore our country to full activity.”
Mustapha also addressed the criticism on the alleged violation of directives of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) at the burial of Abba Kyari, the late chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, saying lessons had been learnt.
“The PTF recognizes, regrettably, the unintentional violation of the principles and protocols that form the core of our messaging to Nigerians, at the funeral of the late Chief of Staff,” he said.
“These principles for emphasis, include: the guidance provided on mass gatherings; social distancing; personal hygiene; and
restriction of movements.
“Lessons have been learnt and appropriate measures have been taken to close all gaps. We assure all Nigerians of their safety and the determination of the PTF to combat the pandemic. (The Cable)
The federal government should lift th
restriction order and focus providing covid 19 testing equipment and other relevant materials for each local government and employ and train jobless youth to carry out door to door test and social distance
campaign with public motivational packages to everyone who undergo covid 19 test. This i think the federal government should consider because covid 19 cannot hold the economy hostage. People are dying even before covid 19 get to them. The education sector of the country should be considered. Let the federal and state government have a rethink on the lock down of all sectors in the country. If assuming that all the government parasta has been bankrupt no salary paid,.no impress for either the president, governors or coucil chairmen to move about,how would the situation look today. Let there be budget for intensive test while normal public and private sector
continue their day to day business to cotail both covid19 and hunger in Nigeria.