The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd.) , will today ( Friday) meet with the Presidential Task Force on COVID -19 over the lockdown imposed on the Federal Capital Territory , Lagos and Ogun states .
The PUNCH gathered that the task force would brief the President on the war against COVID- 19 and the possibility of extending the two -week lockdown in the FCT, Ogun and Lagos states as well as including other parts of the country.
Two top government officials confirmed to The PUNCH on Thursday that the task force would brief the President on Friday ( today) .
But at a meeting with the National Assembly leaders on Thursday, the task force said it had gathered data to enforce “ lockdown of parts or all of the states ” in the country.
One of the officials, who confirmed the President’ s meeting with the task force , told one of our correspondents that reports and recommendations were still being awaited from some state governors as of Thursday evening .
He said , “ The President was supposed to be briefed this evening ( Thursday evening) , but we had to delay because we are waiting for reports and recommendations from some affected states. All things being equal, the President will be briefed on Friday and will take necessary actions . ”
When asked if the President would extend the lockdown , the source said , “ During the announcement some 10 days ago , the President made it clear that the lockdown would be for an initial period of 14 days.
“ What this means is that there is a likelihood of extension, but it will be done only after due consultation with the states .”
However , a senior official of an isolation centre in Abuja told one of our correspondents that a recommendation had been made for an extension.
The source said the move had become necessary because of a suspected community spread.
The doctor , who wished to remain anonymous, said some persons, who tested positive for coronavirus , had not travelled before .
He said , “ We in the FCT have recommended an extension of the lockdown because we believe we are now facing a community spread. For instance, one of the people who tested positive is a cook that has never travelled before.
“ The cook ’ s boss recently returned from outside the country, but the boss tested negative. So , where did the cook get it from ? We are also working on a report by the World Health Organisation that COVID- 19 can be spread through currency.
“ We have submitted our report to the case management team , which will in turn submit a report to the emergency operational committee for final submission to the presidential task force . However , we did not state in the report how many days should be added to the lockdown . We don’ t know if our recommendation will be accepted. ”
It was also gathered that the lockdown might be extended to all parts of the country to enable health workers conduct more tests and fish out people who had contracted the virus .

“ More states are recording COVID -19 cases. We may also consider the possibility of making the lockdown nationwide , at least for a week. We cannot rule out the fact that there is COVID -19 in states that have not recorded any case,” another official told The PUNCH.
The President had in a nationwide broadcast on March 29, ordered lockdown of the FCT , Lagos and Ogun states for two weeks beginning from 11 pm on March 30 .
According to him, the lockdown will enable government to trace and treat those who have contracted the virus .
More than a week that the lockdown began in Lagos State and the FCT, COVID- 19 cases in the country has jumped from 111 to 290, with the virus spreading to 16 states .
The states are Lagos , Oyo , Osun , Ogun, Kaduna, Enugu, Edo , Delta, Bauchi , Ekiti, Rivers, Benue, Akwa Ibom, Ondo , Kwara, and Katsina .
Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 in Lagos on Tuesday said before the end of this week, it would submit its report to Buhari, who would decide on the lockdown.
Besides the FCT , Lagos , and Ogun states where the President had ordered lockdown, some states including Osun , Kwara, Plateau and Rivers had also taken similar action .
We have collected data for possible lockdown in all states – PTF
During the meeting with the National Assembly leaders, the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force, Boss Mustapha, said the PTF had collected necessary data on measures including lockdown in all states .
He stated, “ There is acquisition of intelligence data to guide implementation of control measures such as may emanate from restrictions and or lockdowns of parts or all of the states. ”
The PTF chairman noted that Nigeria had increased the number of molecular laboratories from five to nine, which would rise to 11 on Friday ( today) .
Mustapha said there was mobilisation of resources at the states and local government areas in preparation for the possible spread of the coronavirus to communities.
According to him , strategies adopted by the PTF in conjunction with the states , include testing , detection, isolation, contact tracing and management .
Mustapha also said , “ For transparency and accountability , the PTF will not be directly involved in the collection and disbursement of the cash donations for COVID- 19. The Accountant General of the Federation has already published the account details for collection through some commercial banks and also provided the modalities for its utilisation.
“ All the main COVID -19 accounts shall be domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria. However , all non -cash donations shall be duly received by the PTF , acknowledged , documented and appropriately deployed .
“ The COVID -19 pandemic has stolen both our health and our wealth. The impact of this is not only on the national economy, but on the poor , the aged , the sick and the vulnerable . Out of concern for these categories of persons, the President has approved a stimulus of over N 500bn and the employment of 774,000 Nigerians .”
The President of the Senate, Lawan , advised the PTF to work on the harmonisation of the funds contributed by organisations and individuals to combat the coronavirus , noting that there must be an effective service delivery to Nigerians.
Lawan said that there was no coordination of donations among ministries , agencies and private entities. He urged the task force to work on the aggregation of donations.

source: https://punchng.com/buhari-task-force-meet-today-over-nationwide-lockdown/

valentineuwakwe:
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd.) , will today ( Friday) meet with the Presidential Task Force on COVID -19 over the lockdown imposed on the Federal Capital Territory , Lagos and Ogun states .
The PUNCH gathered that the task force would brief the President on the war against COVID- 19 and the possibility of extending the two -week lockdown in the FCT, Ogun and Lagos states as well as including other parts of the country.
Two top government officials confirmed to The PUNCH on Thursday that the task force would brief the President on Friday ( today) .
But at a meeting with the National Assembly leaders on Thursday, the task force said it had gathered data to enforce “ lockdown of parts or all of the states ” in the country.
One of the officials, who confirmed the President’ s meeting with the task force , told one of our correspondents that reports and recommendations were still being awaited from some state governors as of Thursday evening .
He said , “ The President was supposed to be briefed this evening ( Thursday evening) , but we had to delay because we are waiting for reports and recommendations from some affected states. All things being equal, the President will be briefed on Friday and will take necessary actions . ”
When asked if the President would extend the lockdown , the source said , “ During the announcement some 10 days ago , the President made it clear that the lockdown would be for an initial period of 14 days.
“ What this means is that there is a likelihood of extension, but it will be done only after due consultation with the states .”
However , a senior official of an isolation centre in Abuja told one of our correspondents that a recommendation had been made for an extension.
The source said the move had become necessary because of a suspected community spread.
The doctor , who wished to remain anonymous, said some persons, who tested positive for coronavirus , had not travelled before .
He said , “ We in the FCT have recommended an extension of the lockdown because we believe we are now facing a community spread. For instance, one of the people who tested positive is a cook that has never travelled before.
“ The cook ’ s boss recently returned from outside the country, but the boss tested negative. So , where did the cook get it from ? We are also working on a report by the World Health Organisation that COVID- 19 can be spread through currency.
“ We have submitted our report to the case management team , which will in turn submit a report to the emergency operational committee for final submission to the presidential task force . However , we did not state in the report how many days should be added to the lockdown . We don’ t know if our recommendation will be accepted. ”
It was also gathered that the lockdown might be extended to all parts of the country to enable health workers conduct more tests and fish out people who had contracted the virus .

“ More states are recording COVID -19 cases. We may also consider the possibility of making the lockdown nationwide , at least for a week. We cannot rule out the fact that there is COVID -19 in states that have not recorded any case,” another official told The PUNCH.
The President had in a nationwide broadcast on March 29, ordered lockdown of the FCT , Lagos and Ogun states for two weeks beginning from 11 pm on March 30 .
According to him, the lockdown will enable government to trace and treat those who have contracted the virus .
More than a week that the lockdown began in Lagos State and the FCT, COVID- 19 cases in the country has jumped from 111 to 290, with the virus spreading to 16 states .
The states are Lagos , Oyo , Osun , Ogun, Kaduna, Enugu, Edo , Delta, Bauchi , Ekiti, Rivers, Benue, Akwa Ibom, Ondo , Kwara, and Katsina .
Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 in Lagos on Tuesday said before the end of this week, it would submit its report to Buhari, who would decide on the lockdown.
Besides the FCT , Lagos , and Ogun states where the President had ordered lockdown, some states including Osun , Kwara, Plateau and Rivers had also taken similar action .
We have collected data for possible lockdown in all states – PTF
During the meeting with the National Assembly leaders, the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force, Boss Mustapha, said the PTF had collected necessary data on measures including lockdown in all states .
He stated, “ There is acquisition of intelligence data to guide implementation of control measures such as may emanate from restrictions and or lockdowns of parts or all of the states. ”
The PTF chairman noted that Nigeria had increased the number of molecular laboratories from five to nine, which would rise to 11 on Friday ( today) .
Mustapha said there was mobilisation of resources at the states and local government areas in preparation for the possible spread of the coronavirus to communities.
According to him , strategies adopted by the PTF in conjunction with the states , include testing , detection, isolation, contact tracing and management .
Mustapha also said , “ For transparency and accountability , the PTF will not be directly involved in the collection and disbursement of the cash donations for COVID- 19. The Accountant General of the Federation has already published the account details for collection through some commercial banks and also provided the modalities for its utilisation.
“ All the main COVID -19 accounts shall be domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria. However , all non -cash donations shall be duly received by the PTF , acknowledged , documented and appropriately deployed .
“ The COVID -19 pandemic has stolen both our health and our wealth. The impact of this is not only on the national economy, but on the poor , the aged , the sick and the vulnerable . Out of concern for these categories of persons, the President has approved a stimulus of over N 500bn and the employment of 774,000 Nigerians .”
The President of the Senate, Lawan , advised the PTF to work on the harmonisation of the funds contributed by organisations and individuals to combat the coronavirus , noting that there must be an effective service delivery to Nigerians.
Lawan said that there was no coordination of donations among ministries , agencies and private entities. He urged the task force to work on the aggregation of donations.

source: https://punchng.com/buhari-task-force-meet-today-over-nationwide-lockdown/

Kogi governor just ordered the opening of churches and mosque...!!
The guy just want to make sure mass infection happen in that state...!!

All state surrounding Kogi already got and Kogi like Burundi is shouting we don't have the virus simply because no single test kit is available in that state.

I believe the virus is already in Kogi but the irresponsible government still went ahead to open mosque, churches and also markets all areas they know would aid in spreading the virus fast...

Atimes I wonder if APC is anti People...the coming days would tell though...RIP in advance to all those that would die as a result of this irresponsible decision...!!

All in all, if this virus get of hand then Nigeria is doom and all the years of looting and misgovernance would come.back to bite us all in the ass...both the weak and strong, the rich and the poor...!!

hmm

All this lengthy write up, just about a brief to a deaf man I know will not be up to three pages, of which I know the President will not read up to a page before handing it over to his PA. Abi no be Buhari again? The Covik-one nine man?
Talking about the 774,000 employments they keep brandishing, just on papers, even my LGA chairman couldn't confirm it.

Ok. Fingers crossed.

I smell extension ..the results of the Lockdown have been Poor as we have not seen lower infection rates but rather an increase

GamalNasser:
I smell extension ..the results of the Lockdown have been Poor's as we have not seen lower infection rates

It was actually a one month stuff but they tactically put it at two weeks to minimise potential opposition to it. Now it can be extended by one week and then after, another one week or a single extension to two more weeks.

Fingers crossed...let's watch and see how it's gonna go

To meet toady rather than having regular meeting like other countries. This government continues to exhibit its incompetent day after days

GamalNasser:
I smell extension ..the results of the Lockdown have been Poor as we have not seen lower infection rates but rather an increase

Because Nigerians are not obeying the lockdown. Politicians have also introduced politics into the whole thing. Some want the disease to spread so as to bring down the government. This is with all kinds of fake news to instil disobedience.

Initiate an extension and the people revolt... What palliatives have been given to the masses like other Countries abroad...

How many accounts were credited or foods distributed to last for an extension...

Bunch of jokers

All states should have been locked down at once.
Followed by massive testing for anyone slightly showing the symptoms.

Allowing dumb governors to toy with the lives of their people was a bad move.

Wolexdey:
Initiate an extension and the people revolt... What palliatives have been given to the masses like other Countries abroad...

How many accounts were credited or foods distributed to last for an extension...

Bunch of jokers

You are the joker here.
Just watch out.

Nice one at least one week is OK








I still remain Ada ogwashi

Another two weeks loading.

Lagos should be lock completely for two months.

Anyway, Yeerobah no go like am because of their love for Saturdays and Sundays owambe peppered jollof rice.

The government's intention initially was a 2 months lockdown but for fear of backlash, they might have decided to go with the initial 14 days.

We've already been hinted if not they wont have told our DISCOS to provide light for Nigerians for the next 2 months

Ladiesdoctor:
Another two weeks loading.

Lagos should be lock completely for two months.

Anyway, Yeerobah no go like am because of their love for Saturdays and Sundays owambe peppered jollof rice.

Wicked soul.....we are tired and you want them to extend this punishment?

Seeing what's happening in the US(NYC in particular) and countries in Europe, Nigeria is sitting on a ticking time bomb with our lackadaisical attitude. An explosion of cases is imminent and I believe there are more cases in Nigeria. Our lack of testing equipment is the main reason for the relatively low numbers reported so far. Though it'd bite really hard, there should be an extension of the lock down and Edo state should be included(With the volume of traffic that comes into Edo from Lagos, I really don't understand why Obaseki left the Edo to Lagos border open). While We'd suffer in d long term, na who dey life fit make money

Las las na extension go end am,for say dem fit give us 3days to hustle next week e for better.

Valkrie:


Kogi governor just ordered the opening of churches and mosque...!!
The guy just want to make sure mass infection happen in that state...!!

All state surrounding Kogi already got and Kogi like Burundi is shouting we don't have the virus simply because no single test kit is available in that state.

I believe the virus is already in Kogi but the irresponsible government still went ahead to open mosque, churches and also markets all areas they know would aid in spreading the virus fast...

Atimes I wonder if APC is anti People...the coming days would tell though...RIP in advance to all those that would die as a result of this irresponsible decision...!!

All in all, if this virus get of hand then Nigeria is doom and all the years of looting and misgovernance would come.back to bite us all in the ass...both the weak and strong, the rich and the poor...!!

When I heard the news of Kogi reopening the worship centers, I was honestly perplexed. Like, what are these guys smoking over there? Even if Yahaya Bello no wise, he no get advisers? With it's proximity to Abuja and Edo, there ain't no way Kogi state is Covid 19 free. Instead of trying to get testing kits, that bumbling idiot is reopening mosques and churches to increase the spread

Xisnin:

You are the joker here.
Just watch out.

Let's watch and see... You're not within the affected state so what else will you type.