Buhari extends lifespan of PTF on COVID-19, curfew now midnight to 4am

 

BY PAUL SILAS

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President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the extension of the six-month mandate given to the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 to manage the issues arising from the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

The PTF lifespan ought to have expired at the end of September but now has up until the end of December, 2020, barring further shift.

This was part of the outcome of the PTF briefing on Thursday as regards the state-of-the-nation in the fight against the coronavirus disease.

The National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu, who spoke at the briefing inside the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday, disclosed that the president had approved the adjustment of the nationwide curfew to now take effect from midnight to 4am, effective today, September 3.

READ: https://reliablesourceng.com/nigeria-not-ready-for-full-reopening-of-economy-extends-lockdown/

He said: “I will first of all start with general movement. We are modifying the curfew to commence from 12 midnight to 4am nationwide, effective from 12:00 tonight.

“This does not apply to people on essential services and international travellers that might be returning from abroad.”

He stated that president Buhari had approved the following:

• Transition into the third phase of the National Response to COVID-19 for a period of 4 weeks with effect from 12.01am on Friday 4th September, 2020 in line with amendments to address economic, socio-political and health considerations reflected in the implementation guidelines;
• Continued engagement with states and local governments to improve community sensitisation on the response; – Maintaining the current non-pharmaceutical interventions nationwide;
• Urging the state governments to work with local government authorities in their states to intensify necessary measures such as contact tracing, grassroots engagement and risk communication;
• Strengthening the collaboration between the federal and state organs to harmonise the country’s #COVID19 response, in the short, medium and long-term basis.

Introduction of sanctions including the suspension of passports or denial of foreign travels for violation of current provisional travel related quarantine protocols.