#COVID19: Fresh Lockdown May Be Proposed After Two Weeks

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has lamented the increasing rate of COVID-19 cases among people in government, saying it was directly impacting on governance and security in the country.

Mustapha stated this at the task force press briefing in Abuja, on Monday.

According to him, the possibility of ordering a fresh total lockdown to curtail further spread of the virus could not be ruled out.

The SGF, who advised prominent Nigerians to take COVID-19 protocols seriously, said the virus does not respect status.

Mustapha’s warning came amid rising cases of COVID-19 among state governors and other prominent Nigerians.

Recall that state governors, including David Umahi of Ebonyi, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta and their Ondo State counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu, contracted the virus recently.

“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,” the SGF said, while warning people in authority.

When quizzed if the task force would be considering a fresh lockdown in the face of what it observed as disregard for guidelines, Mustapha said events of coming weeks would determine the next line of action.

“We will not speculate on what will happen in future but we will protect the lives of Nigerians.

“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,” he said.

On Tuesday, 575 new confirmed cases and 9 deaths were recorded in Nigeria

Till date, 29286 cases have been confirmed, 11828 cases have been discharged and 654 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The 575 new cases are reported from 20 states- Lagos(123), FCT(100), Delta(58), Edo(52), Ogun(42), Katsina(24), Bayelsa(23), Rivers(22), Borno(19), Plateau(18), Ondo(18), Oyo(17), Kwara(15), Osun(13), Enugu(9), Nasarawa (7), Abia(6), Cross River(5), Kaduna(3), Ekiti(1).

According to the latest figures published by John Hopkins University, 11,579,837 cases have been detected worldwide, with 536,814 deaths and 6,269,860 people recovered.