By Ogechi Okorie
Abuja – The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha on Monday hinted that compliance to physical distancing and use of face masks was poor as ease of five weeks lockdown on Lagos, FCT and Ogun states began on Monday.
He made the observation at the PTF daily briefing on COVID-19, on Monday in Abuja.
Mustapha, who decried the chaotic scenes around banks and other financial institutions, reiterated that the danger of infection was not over and that individual actions would contribute to the success or failure of the measures.
He urged citizens to minimize the risks of getting infected while trying to transact businesses in the banks.
He urged banks to ensure that their ATMs and online banking systems were in good order and stocked regularly to avoid convergence of customers in their premises.
He said the PTF fully understood the desire of Nigerians to come out to continue their lives after five weeks of lockdown, but added that state governments and security agencies had been advised to enforce the measures rigidly and prosecute violators.
“Let me remind you, once more, that this easing up is in phases and those who are permitted to open have clearly been defined.
“Our admonition to Nigerians is that, it is still desirable to stay at home if there is no compelling reason to go out and to comply with the measures always, whether at home or not,” he said.
The SGF said that the PTF had also received reports on the level of compliance with the nationwide ban on interstate movement.
“The objective of the ban is to slow down the spread of virus across state boundaries. Government is determined to enforce this policy,” he said.
