Sequel to the cancellation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s scheduled broadcast today, the President on Monday held the first-ever virtual conference with the 36 state governors on the coronavirus crisis.
Buhari presided over the interactive session via a video conference at the Council Chambers at the State House, Abuja.
Key attendees include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha and first-timer, the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.
Apart from the governors, the Minister of Finance, Budget, National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele, and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, were also at the meeting with Buhari at the Council Chambers.
Dr Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti Governor and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum led members in the online meeting.
The meeting which started at noon ended at 1.00 pm.
Details of the discussions are yet to be made public.
Persecondnews reports that the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, had earlier on Monday announced the shelving of the presidential broadcast.
Adesina disclosed this via his official twitter handle, where he said that the Presidential Taskforce would brief Nigerians on the possible next steps towards covid-19.
‘No presidential broadcast on COVID-19 updates today. None was planned. Rather, the Presidential Task Force will during its usual media briefings bring the nation up to speed on the next steps.”
On Sunday, the National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Dr Aliu Sani, had said the President would address the nation on May 18.
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