*Nigeria’s leader, President Muhammadu Buhari
Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari will for the fourth time address Nigerians where he is expected to give directives on the next phase of ease of lockdown tomorrow Monday May 18, 2020. This was declared earlier on Sunday by the National Coordinator, Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Dr, Sani Aliyu.
The National Coordinator who was on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics disclosed that the PTF members chaired by Mr. Boss Mustapha, who also doubles as both the Secretary to the State Government (SGF) and the Chairman of the PTF said the PTF met the President on Sunday afternoon at the State House, Abuja, ahead of this week’s review of the current easing of the lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja as well as Lagos and Ogun States.
It would be recalled that when Nigeria came under the attack of the dreaded Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Buhari announced a prolonged lockdown, which he eventually eased on May 4, but imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew. He also ordered a ban on inter-state movements and made wearing of face mast compulsory in public places, amongst other protocols across the country for two weeks.
At his last broadcast, Buhari also approved civil servants on Grade Level 14 and above to resume work three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). This directive was also abused as some companies started going to work on daily basis, which is against the President’s directives. The PTF had frowned at the development and hinted that the President Buhari may have no other option than to order a “total lockdown,” if Nigerians will not obey the advisories especially now that the transmission of the disease is on community level.
Dr. Aliyu told Channels Television that, “We have given our recommendations to the President and we will wait for his decision on the next phase of ease of lockdown tomorrow. We have been monitoring quite closely the obedience to the ease of lockdown guidelines. We don’t know how long this pandemic will last. We are trying to save lives and at the same time, balance it up with the economy. No country on earth can afford a lockdown for a prolonged period of time. It will be dangerous to the economy,” he said.
