COVID-19: PTF warns of dangers ahead

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Wednesday complained about the refusal of Nigerians to comply with the ban on interstate travels in the country, lamenting that there may be dangers ahead.

Chairman of the task force, Boss Mustapha, who stated this at the PTF press briefing in Abuja, insisted that disregard for the ban on interstate movements and other guidelines was an indication of the danger ahead.

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had, in his broadcast on April 27, banned interstate movements while announcing the easing of the lockdown he imposed on parts of the country.

Assessing compliance with guidelines, the PTF chairman, Mustapha, said an early assessment of the ease of lockdown indicated that Nigerians had yet to come to terms with the deadliness and the virulent nature of the COVID-19.

He added that if Nigerians continue to disregard social distancing and other guidelines released by the PTF, there is danger ahead.

According to the SGF, some of the PTF worries included non-compliance with social/physical distancing guidelines evidenced by higher-than-advised congregation of people in banks, traffic gridlocks, especially at entry points to metropolitan areas and disregard for guidelines on carrying capacity of vehicles.

He lamented that there was an increased level of interstate movements worsened by the dubious concealment of people in vehicles carrying foods, and unhygienic and ill-advised use and sharing of masks especially multiple fittings before buying from vendors.

He said: “The overall assessment of compliance with the measures and the outcome of modelling we have developed, point in the direction of danger ahead. We therefore need personal discipline, increased awareness and enforcement.

“I wish to repeat my call to the banks to also quickly address issues related to difficulty with using their online platforms, especially revalidating expired ATM cards, among others’, Mustapha said.