FG ANNOUNCES PHASE IV OF COVID-19 LOCKDOWN IMPOSES CURFEW

The Federal Government has announced Phase IV of the COVID-19 lockdown across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Head of Technical Secretariat of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, Dr. Mukhtar Mohammed, who made the announcement on Monday in Abuja, said the new directive is to take effect by midnight of Tuesday, May 11.

With the lockdown imposed, mass gatherings in public spaces have been restricted to 50 people at any given time. Access to government institutions would also be denied to anyone not wearing a face mask while government meetings and travels have been limited to the virtual platform.

According to Mohammed, the government has directed that bars and nightclubs should remain closed and the nationwide curfew will be in force until further notice. He added that only essential international travels would be encouraged, and all existing protocols must be strictly adhered to.

Not too long ago, the Presidency has issued a warning to Nigerians asking them to comply with the COVID-19 protocols especially the mask-wearing.

According to the presidency, they will have no choice than to lockdown the country should Nigerian refuse to adhere to these safety protocols.

This was made known in a statement signed by the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu.

The statement read;

“The Presidency is worried by reports of non-compliance with just signed executive order that makes mask-wearing and observation of social distancing in the public mandatory, appealing to Nigerians to give their maximum cooperation for the success of the policy,”

President Muhammadu Buhari introduced the order with the best of intentions and not with any motive to punish citizens.