FG did not declare fresh lockdown, says Minister

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By Ismail Auwal

The Federal Government has not declared another lockdown in the country.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Tuesday on a Radio Nigeria programme, “Politics Nationwide’’, monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

The minister clarified that the injunction and position of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 at its briefing on Monday, did not translate to partial or total lockdown as reported in some sections of the media.

Mohammed explained that what the Federal Government’s directive to its workers from level 12 below to work from home is to reduce the chances of mass gathering.

He said the government has also extended already existing ban on night clubs and other COVID-19 protocols.

“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 economic meltdown does not arise,’’ he said.

The minister said that the government is also reminding Nigerians that the ban on social gathering is still on, and Churches and Mosques should obey the social gathering rules.

He said the directive is to curtail people from gathering because they found out that COVID had reached level of community transmission.

Mohammed said the protocols on foreign travels subsist to the effect that those travelling to Nigeria would not be able to come on board unless they have the certificate that they tested negative for the virus.

He said when they arrive into the country, they must self-isolate for seven days after which they would go back for confirmation test.

(NAN)

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