COVID-19: Why Buhari may extend stay-at-home order – Boss Mustapha

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has said only President Muhammadu Buhari can decide if the lockdown of Lagos, Ogun, and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, over the Coronavirus pandemic will be extended or not depending on expert advice.

Recall that Buhari had, a week ago, ordered a total lockdown of Lagos, Ogun and the FCT for 14 days in the first instance, to checkmate the spread of Coronavirus.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, made the remarks on Tuesday while briefing State House Correspondents in Lagos House, Marina, after an inspection of isolation facilities in different parts of the state.

The task force, accompanied by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had earlier inspected isolation facilities at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos Island; Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital, IDH, Yaba; Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi-Araba, and Gbagada General Hospital, Isolation Centre, Gbagada.

Also in the entourage was Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, and Minister of Interior Affairs, Rauf Aregbesola, among other key government functionaries.

Mustapha said: “Basically, this is part of the consultation we are looking at the objectives that were set when the Lockdown and Quarantine Declaration 2020 was signed by the President and subsequently by other states.

“Before the end of the week, we will do an evaluation and see how the objectives that were set are being met.

“At the end of that exercise, we will have the responsibility of reporting back to Mr. President. The President did say the declaration was on the advice of the Minister of Health and experts.

“At the end of our valuation, our advice and recommendation will be presented to Mr. President and at that point, he and he alone can take that decision when the lockdown would either be extended or it will stop at the expiration of 14 days.

“In his address to the nation, he did say 14 days in the first instance. So it is opened. It is based on what has happened within these 14 days: have they been met? Have they satisfied the objectives? Has it gone in the direction we wanted it to go?

“If that has been achieved, he will look at all the information available to him as the President of Nigeria and I can assure you that he will make a decision that is in the best interest of Nigerians.”

Earlier, Mustapha in a briefing, said the task force was in Lagos to inspect facilities put in place by the government for the control of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He assured all Nigerians of the unwavering commitment of Buhari to this war against COVID-19 and his readiness to mobilize resources to achieve national objectives.

He stated that it was not the desire of the government to punish its citizen by restricting their movement, but rather out of the abundance of caution, that difficult decision was taken to save lives by preventing spread.

His words: “Reports have been received on the general level of satisfactory compliance in Lagos with the lockdown order and we have similarly received reports of violations.

In this case, I commend the instant action taken by the Lagos State Government by prosecuting and convicting notable violators, which shows that nobody should be above the law. “In recognition of the impact of the lockdown order on the poor, physically challenged, the elderly and the vulnerable, Mr. President approved the release of 70,000 metric tons of grains from the strategic grains reserve.

“Out of this, about 6,800 will be distributed in Lagos, Ogun and FCT, while the rest will be distributed to the 13 frontline states that have recorded cases of the COVID-19 disease. I assure you that the distribution of the Lagos State share will commence shortly.

“Mr. President has similarly approved the payment of two months Conditional Cash Transfer to 2.6 million poor and vulnerable already registered in the social safety net programme.

“On behalf of Mr. President, I wish to commend the government of Lagos State magnificently controlling the pandemic and for putting in place isolation centres, ICU facilities as well as establishing a wide network of contact tracing.”