…urges Nigerians to comply with stay-at-home order, restrictions
…promises more FG’s interventions
President Muhammadu Buhari said on Saturday that the CONVID-19 pandemic ravaging some parts of the country and the world is Nigeria’s darkest hour.
He said as a people there was need to rally support for the authorities to take the fight seriously towards curtailing the spread of the pandemic.
“But at this darkest hour, it remains our duty to offer you the full and unvarnished truth: This is a global pandemic. 210 countries and territories across the globe are affected.
“We cannot expect others to come to our assistance. No one is coming to defeat this virus for us.
“Instead, the defeat of the virus in our country will be in our hands, alone. We cannot wait for others. We can only depend on ourselves now. And so we must – and we will – end this outbreak ourselves as Nigerians, together,” Buhari said in a statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, obtained by Persecondnews.
The President had two weeks ago imposed a two-week lockdown on Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States while some states have also shut down.
The President said to completely rout coronavirus in the country Nigerians must accept the restrictions being slammed on them or reject them for fatal consequences.
Pointing out that since there is no known cure yet for the disease, Buhari said: “And that means there are choices to be made: between continuing as usual, or accepting the restrictions even when they come with unintended consequences.
“All that the Government is asking you to endure is because nowhere in the world today is there any known way of defeating this pandemic. There is no vaccine.’’
He, however, “wholeheartedly thanked all Nigerians for their patience, resolve and strong determination to defeat the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak’’.
The President said: “We realize that today, there will be sons and daughters unable to visit their parents, and elders that are isolated from young ones. And there will be those who live day-to-day, eating as they earn, who face real and present suffering.
“No elected government could ask more of the citizens of the country that elected them than today we ask of you. But we must ask you – once more – to observe restrictions on movement where they are in place, and follow the instructions of our scientists and medical advisers: stay home, wash your hands, save lives.
“The freedoms we ask you to willingly forsake today will only last as long as our scientific advisers declare they are necessary. But they are essential – world over – to halt and defeat the spread of this virus.’’
On measures so far introduced by the government to cushion the effects of COVID-19, Buhari noted: “For those who suffer most egregiously, the Government has announced multiple measures to assist: 70,000 tonnes of grain is being released from the National Strategic Grain Reserves for distribution to those in most need.
“Distribution of small cash payments are also being made, and will continue to be made by the federal government in the states and local government areas.’’
He urged Nigerians to listen to and follow public announcements via the mass media for instructions as to how to receive this government support and learn of more public assistance in the coming days.
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