The Federal Government of Nigeria has urged state governments not to relax either the lockdown orders declared by the Federal Government or the stay-at-home order imposed on some states by their governors.
This appeal was made by Dr. Sani Aliyu, National Secretary of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday.
Some states such as Rivers, Ondo – which both have confirmed COVID-19 cases- and Bayelsa announced a partial lifting of their lockdown to enable Christians to participate in the Easter celebration.
Katsina State – which also has a confirmed case- lifted the suspension of congregational prayers to allow Muslims partake in the Friday Ju’mat prayers.
But Aliyu informed the state governors relaxing such measures that the Coronavirus pandemic is not just affecting Lagos and Ogun states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the areas which President Muhammadu Buhari declared a lockdown to curb the virus spread.
He insisted that the time is not yet right for such a decision to be taken.
“We have noted that some states have started lifting the ban or relaxing containment protocols and this is really not the right time to do so – partly because we still have an ongoing pandemic which is global.
“It is also not the right time to do so because we could end up having real recrudescence of infections,” he said.
Aliyu stressed leaders at the state level, traditional and religious leaders have various roles to play to win the fight against COVID-19 in the country, adding that policies of the Federal and state government concerning COVID-19 should be harmonised.
“At this point, I am appealing to our local community leaders, religious and traditional leaders, as well as the state authorities to continue to support and encourage the public to maintain those protective measures that are important in getting on top of this infection.
“There is also a very strong need for the state governments to work in harmony and align with the Federal Government in our effort to deal with this pandemic.
“This pandemic is not just an Abuja or Lagos issue; it is a national issue.”
Nigeria has recorded 305 confirmed cases of Coronavirus as at Friday evening.
Of the 305 cases, seven deaths have been reported while 58 patients have recovered and subsequently discharged from isolation centres across various states in the country.
