COVID-19 Lockdown: Nigeria will come out of it stronger and as quickly as possible — Buhari

Per Second NewsApril 10, 2020617

…urges Nigerians to be patient

…more stimulus package on the way, says Osinbajo

President Muhammadu Buhari is optimistic that Nigeria will come out of the COVID-19 situation stronger and as quickly as possible, urging Nigerians to be patient.

He said in Abuja on Friday that his administration was intensifying efforts to flatten the curve of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

He spoke at a strategic engagement with the Presidential Task Force on COVID -19 chaired by Mr Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Mustapha had acquainted Buhari with details of the work being done in line with its mandate towards containing the pandemic.

Buhari, who expressed satisfaction with the transparent way and manner the Task force had engaged critical stakeholders in carrying out its responsibilities, said he believed that Nigeria will come out of the situation stronger and as quickly as possible.

The Task Force had presented the President with some basic facts and options that will guide him in deciding whether or not the restrictions of movements and lockdown in some parts of the country should be extended.

In a related development, there are strong indications that more economic stimulus packages are to be introduced by the Federal Government towards cushioning the effect of The COVID-19 pandemic on the “poor and the vulnerable”.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo disclosed tlafter an audience with President Buhari.

Osinbajo is the chairman of the high powered economic sustainability committee constituted by Buhari as part of the National response strategy towards alleviating the suffering of Nigerians as the country battles the COVID -19 pandemic.

Osinbajo said he and the President compared notes on what more can be done for the poor in the face of the stringent measures put in place by government to check the spread of coronavirus in the country.

He said that their discussions centred on how to resolve some of the very pressing issues around CoVID -19 and indeed the economy.

Osinbajo announced that the full report of the Economic Sustainability Committee containing thoughts and ideas of members on how move the country forward would soon be submitted to the President.