Hon. Ministers,
Gentlemen of the Press
I warmly welcome you to the daily national briefing on COVID-19 for Friday 3rd April, 2020
2. As expected, we continue to monitor the situation across the nation. We are getting positive reports that there has been high level of compliance with the lockdown orders in Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory.
3. As I mentioned in my remarks yesterday, COVID-19 remains a potential danger to all of humanity and it threatens our economy and national security, it therefore behooves on us to play our part in the national response very seriously.
4. The Federal Government has ramped up its synergy with the State Governments through video-conferencing communication and the platform of the Governors Forum. By these measures, a lot of gaps are being closed for uniformity of purpose.
5. The PTF finds it very necessary to appeal to our Law Enforcement Agencies to deploy tact and caution in the course of enforcing the rules, even, in the face of provocation. We similarly appeal to all Nigerians to be law abiding, exercise patience and self-restraint. The message from Mr. President is that no Nigerian should on account of these rules suffer any harm or pains during this period or at any time in our national life.
6. To the Nigerian traders and business men and women, we appeal for resistance to the urge to hike prices of goods and commodities, during this period as our compassionate nature must prevail. This is the best time to be considerate and to show empathy for our fellow Nigerians.
7. I am pleased to inform Nigerians that we made progress in the mobilization of resources to re-enforce our preparedness and other implementation arrangements.
8. In recognition of the danger to which our frontline health workers are exposed to, Government is working with other stakeholders to structure medical and life insurance cover for their protection. I therefore wish to assure them of our commitment and urge them to put in their utmost best as they battle to save us from this ravaging disease.
9. The role of the Non-Governmental Organisations and Civil Society Organisations in this battle is also well recognized. I however urge them to deploy their resources, especially community-based manpower to shore up the arrangements by the sub-national entities.
9. At this juncture, the following Members will specific Ministers will take their turns to brief you on the activities of the Presidential Task Force and by extension, Government on our response to COVID-19 Pandemic in the last 24 hours. They are:
✓ Minister of Health
✓ DG- NCDC
✓ National Coordinator
10 I now yield the podium to the Minister of Health to give you his update.
Comments
Post a Comment