Again! FG imposes nationwide curfew, urging state govts to inaugurate mobile courts to try offenders

Worried by the resurgence of COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Government on Monday announced reintroduction of all extant control measures with a view to mitigating the impact of the deadly virus.

As a result, the Presidential Steering Committee, PSC, on COVID-19 reimposed nationwide curfew earlier put in place to control the spread.

It also limited gatherings, especially in enclosed spaces, to a maximum of 50 persons, urging state governments to inaugurate mobile courts to try offenders.

At a media briefing in Abuja, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, and chairman of the PSC, Mr Boss Mustapha, said the committee also considered several pre-emptive measures to be taken to mitigate the likely impact of the variants of concern, should they get imported into Nigeria.

“Accordingly, the PSC has produced new Implementation Guidelines, being Phase IV of our Eased Restrictions of COVID-19 Lock-down in the country.

“This step has become compelling in view of the fragile state of our health systems, the disruption to the vaccines delivery and the lack of compliance with the extant public health measures and social measures contained in the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Health Protection Regulations 2021.

“The PSC has, therefore, considered it imperative to re-institute the various public health measures that were put in place under the health Protection Regulations.

“In taking this step, the PSC requests state governments to please step up to play lead roles in the area of enforcement and sanctions.

“Similarly, our appeal goes to traditional, religious and community leaders to take up more ownership and responsibility for risk communication and community engagement on the virulent nature of the pandemic, concerns over the variants of concern and the need for compliance,” the SGF stated.

He added that the Authorities of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government has fixed the cost of COVID-19 testing, whether PCR or otherwise, at $50 (Fifty US Dollars) at all Points of Entry with effect from 17th May, 2021.

The decision, he said, was to ease travel and trade among citizens of ECOWAS States traveling within the region.

PSC’s Head of Technical Secretariat, Dr Mukhtar Mohammed, said persons without face masks will no longer be allowed into government institutions while it directed security agencies to enforce the use of such masks and other non-pharmaceutical interventions in the transportation sector.

According to him, most government meetings are also now to hold virtually, while only essential international travels are encouraged, with adherence to all protocols.

Mohammed was, however, emphatic that there are no restrictions on intra-state travels.

“The PSC continues to reinforce the surveillance system at the country’s points of entry. While our vaccine roll-out has began, there is a shortage in global supplies affected by the current situation in India.

“This translates to a delay in vaccinating a large proportion of the population and therefore a risk of a large outbreak especially in the context of poor adherence to the recommended public health and social measures.

“The level of adherence to the use of face masks, physical distancing, temperature checks in public spaces, hand-washing and limits on large gatherings remain very poor. In some areas, these are even non-existent.

“In line with the increasing risk of a surge in cases, the PSC is therefore maintaining the enforcement of the COVID-19 Health Protection Regulations. This is to mitigate the risk of a spike in new cases while the nationwide vaccine roll out continues.