The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has insisted that the Federal Government of Nigeria has no plan to inflict a second lockdown on Nigeria as the country fights to curtail the second wave of COVID-19.
The Minister also urged Nigerians to adhere to all guidelines issued by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
Mohammed said this at a press conference in Lagos State on Monday.
Recall that the Federal Government had in March 2020 locked down FCT, as well as Lagos and Ogun States for over a month during the first wave of the pandemic.
According to Mohammed, “On the issue of lockdown, I do not think there is any time when the Federal Government has said it’s going to have a second lockdown.
“However, the Federal Government is very unhappy that Nigerians aren’t adhering to the basic COVID-19 protocols of wearing face masks or practicing social distancing, of washing hands, of ensuring that they do gather in large numbers.
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“If we don’t 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,” he said.