- Extends PTF’s Mandate For Six Months
- PTF Speaks on Guidelines For Full Reopening
In new directives issued on Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari approved Nigeria’s transition to the third phase of the ease of lockdown.
The Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 and Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, announced the new directive following recommendation presented to the President at the Presidential Villa, Thursday.
Mustapha who announced the directive at a press briefing held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, said there has been significant progress made in the fight against Coronavirus in the country, hence, the need to further relax certain restrictions.
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He said the recommendation made to the president will make Nigeria advance to the third phase of eased restrictions with further amendments, to address economic, socio-political and health concerns.
“The PTF believes that while Nigeria is not ready for a full re-opening of the economy, there has been sufficient progress to warrant significant further relaxation of the restrictions applied.
“This will last till a time when the epidemic is sufficiently controlled in Nigeria.
“Accordingly, Mr President has considered and approved the following: Transition into the Third Phase of the National Response to COVID-19 for a period of four weeks with effect from 12.01 am on Friday September 4, 2020 in line with amendments to address economic, socio-political and health considerations reflected in the implementation guidelines;
“Continued engagement with States and Local Governments to improve community sensitisation on the response;
“Maintaining the current non-pharmaceutical interventions nationwide;
“Urging the State governments to work with Local Government authorities in their states to intensify necessary measures such as contact tracing, grassroots engagement and risk communication;
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“Strengthening the collaboration between the Federal and State organs to harmonise the country’s COVID-19 response, in the short, medium and long-term basis; and
According to Mustapha, the newly introduced sanctions include the suspension of passports or denial of foreign travels for violation of current provisional travel-related quarantine protocols.
He added that President Buhari has approved the extension of the six-month PTF’s mandate that was due to expire this month till the end of December.
On reopening of schools, the PTF Coordinator, Dr. Sani Aliyu recommended the phased resumption of students.
Recall The New Diplomat had reported that state governments including Lagos had announced various dates around mid-September for the full reopening of all educational facilities.
Aliyu said, “For educational institutions which include daycare, primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. Educational institutions should begin the process of working towards potentially reopening within this phase.
“However, we strongly recommend that states conduct risk assessment to ensure all schools are at a level of compliance and create a monitoring mechanism to assess, create, and monitor this level of preparedness.
“Meanwhile, all daycares and educational institutions are to remain closed to in-classes until this level of risk is assessed. And if there will be opening of schools, it must be staged and preferably carried out in phases to ensure that this does not pose a risk to the general public and in particular to vulnerable groups that might end up getting infected by students going back home.”
