Security Agents Must Stop Violation Of Interstate Lockdown - NGF

• PTF decries dubious concealment of passengers in food trucks

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Wednesday lamented Nigerians’ non-compliance with guidelines on the gradual reopening of the economy.

The task force Chairman, Boss Mustapha, who stated this at the PTF press conference in Abuja, said disregard for the ban on interstate movements and other guidelines was an indication of the danger ahead.

But the Nigeria Governors’ Forum told The PUNCH that security agencies must live up to their responsibilities by stopping violation of the ban on interstate movements.
The NGF stated this as the Arewa Consultative Forum hit northern governors on the shoddy implementation of the evacuation of Almajiris to their states of origin.

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had, in his broadcast on April 27, banned interstate movements.

The PTF a few days later issued guidelines on social distancing and the ban on any gathering of more than 20 people.

But despite the ban on interstate movements, trucks carrying youths from the northern parts of the country have been finding their way into the south.
Nigerians yet to come to terms with COVID-19 deadliness

Assessing compliance with guidelines, the PTF chairman, Mustapha, said an early assessment of the ease of lockdown indicated that Nigerians had yet to come to terms with the deadliness and the virulent nature of the COVID-19.

According to him, if Nigerians continue to disregard social distancing and other guidelines released by the PTF, there is danger ahead.

The SGF said some of the PTF worries included non-compliance with social/physical distancing guidelines evidenced by higher-than-advised congregation of people in banks, traffic gridlocks, especially at entry points to metropolitan areas and disregard for guidelines on carrying capacity of vehicles.

PTF decries dubious concealment of passengers in food trucks

He lamented that there was an increased level of interstate movements worsened by the dubious concealment of people in vehicles carrying foods, and unhygienic and ill-advised use and sharing of masks especially multiple fittings before buying from vendors.

He said, “The overall assessment of compliance with the measures and the outcome of modelling we have developed, point in the direction of danger ahead. We therefore need personal discipline, increased awareness and enforcement.”
The PTF chairman also recognised the challenges encountered at banks.

He stated, “I wish to repeat my call to the banks to also quickly address issues related to difficulty with using their online platforms, especially revalidating expired ATM cards, among others.”

Educate your members on ban on interstate movements, FG begs transport union

The PTF chairman also urged transportation unions to educate their members on the ban imposed on interstate travels.

He said, “In view of the fact that public transportation is a major clustering area through which the virus can easily be transmitted, we call on the leadership of various transport unions to properly enlighten their members on the danger associated with non-adherence to the COVID-19 containment guidelines.

“Once again, we appeal to the governors to please align their plan for the movement of almajiris with the ban imposed by the President. We shall intensify our dialogue on this matter.”


Mustapha said the NCDC would visit Kogi and Cross River states, which had yet record any COVID-19 case to provide support for them.

He added that Buhari had expressed worry over the infection of health workers in the country.

FG probes Gombe protest

The SGF said an investigation had been carried out into a viral video of infected persons in Gombe State protesting the conditions of their health care.
He stated, “We have similarly received reports about the emerging situation in isolation centres in Gombe circulating in a viral video clip.

“We have investigated and I wish to assure you that the NCDC team is on ground in Gombe to support the state. Similarly, I can confirm that the testing laboratory in Gombe will be activated soon.”
We won’t give any patient to herbal practitioners – Minister
Also at the PTF press briefing, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said many traditional medicines that were being suggested by some herbal practitioners in the country as cures for COVID-19 had not been tested and might be toxic.
He said the Federal Government would not give COVID-19 patients to traditional or alternative medical practitioners to test the efficacy of their drugs as there were no “human guinea pigs.”

He said, “On the cure of COVID-19, the traditional medicines that have been given to us or rather that people said they had, we have referred to them to Traditional Medicine Complementary Department of the Federal Ministry of Health and to the Nigerian Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development to evaluate.

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source http://www.nairaland.com/5840964/ngf-security-agents-must-stop