The Nigerian government has said it has no plans to impose a fresh lockdown as the country battles a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
However, the country’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed at a press conference in Lagos expressed the federal government’s displeasure over Nigerians non-adherence to all protocols outlined by the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19.
“I don’t think there is any time when the Federal Government has said it is going to have a second lockdown. However, the Federal Government is very unhappy that Nigerians are not adhering to the basic Covid-19 protocols of wearing face masks or practising social distancing, of washing hands, of ensuring that they don’t gather in large numbers,” the minister said.
He stated further that “if we do not do these, the surge will continue and with the new strain of Covid-19 which is becoming much more difficult to handle than the old strain, the Federal Government will continue to insist and encourage Nigerians to please obey the Covid-19 protocols.
“The Federal Government is aware of the economic and social implications of a second lockdown but we want to call on Nigerians to help us, help themselves and help the economy, by adhering strictly to the Covid-19 protocols.”
By Abel Ejikeme