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FG has not declared fresh lockdown–Lai Mohammed
By Modupe Shodeinde
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has refuted reports that the Federal Government has declared a fresh lockdown on the country following confirmation of the second wave of COVID-19.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reported that the minister on Tuesday, gave this clarification when he featured on a Radio Nigeria programme, “Politics Nationwide’’.
According to Mohammed, the directives of the Presidential Task Force at its briefing on Monday, did not translate into a total or partial lockdown, contrary to reports in some section of the media.
The Minister, as reported by NAN, assured Nigerians who expressed their fear over the effect of a lockdown on the already stressed economy.
He explained that the directives were only given to curb the spread of the pandemic.
“The Federal Government has not declared a fresh lockdown.
“What we have done is that we have simply reiterated the old protocols and asked federal workers on Level 12 and below to stay at home and they will still receive their salaries.
“Lagos state has equally asked their level 14 workers and below to work from home and Kaduna state has done the same.
“Therefore, there is no fresh lockdown and the issue of hardship and economy meltdown does not arise,’’ he said.
The minister further added that the government had reminded Nigerians of the ban on social gathering, and that churches and mosques should obey the social gathering rules.
This, he said, is to curtail people from gathering, because they found out that COVID-19 had reached the level of community transmission.
On foreign travels protocols, he said those travelling to Nigeria would only be allowed on board if they have the certificate attesting that they tested negative for the virus.
The Minister said they must isolate themselves for seven days on arrival into the country and go back for a confirmation test.
