PTF: Lockdown was eased to enable people adjust

Sani Aliyu, national coordinator of the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19, says the extension of the eased lockdown will give Nigerians the opportunity to start adjusting to the new life with COVID-19.

On Monday, Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation, announced an extension of the lockdown relaxation for another two weeks.

Speaking at the PTF briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Aliyu explained why the eased lockdown was extended, and called for cooperation to ensure proper management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As you are all aware, we have extended the conditions we placed in phase one. We’re now going into a two-week extension of the gradual easing of the lockdown,” Aliyu said.

“The purpose of the extension is to provide the public with a window of opportunity to start adjusting, to start preparing for the new life with COVID infection.

“We are in for the long haul. This pandemic is not going to end in the next few days or few weeks; it’s going to be with us for a little longer.

“Therefore the earlier we start putting in place measures to adjust our lives and our behaviours, the faster we will be able to get back to normal.

“We also extended the conditions for the gradual easing to prepare and make sure that we continue to slow down the pandemic so that we do not have a rebound.”

He said the existing guidelines for easing of the lockdown will largely remain the same for the two-week extension, while the main changes will focus on enforcement by security operatives, courts, banks, shopping malls, offices, restaurants and markets.