COVID-19: Buhari approves full reopening of economy, extends PTF tenure till December

The six-month tenure of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 which is expected to end in September has been extended until the end of December, 2020.

President Muhammadu Buhari granted the extension on Thursday, according to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and PTF Chairman, Mr Boss Mustapha.

He said In order to address economic, socio-political and health concerns, Buhari had approved Nigeria’s advancement to the third phase of eased restrictions with further amendments.

The third phase will last till a time when the epidemic is sufficiently controlled in Nigeria.

Mustapha told a media briefing on Thursday in Abuja: “Nigerians will all recall that at the onset of the eased lock down, the PTF drafted a three-phase strategy of easing the restrictions ahead of a full reopening of the society and economy.

“In determining what phase of the strategy to move to, the PTF tried to balance the public health and economic considerations alongside data analysis.

“The PTF believes that while Nigeria is not ready for a full re-opening of the economy, there has been sufficient progress to warrant significant further relaxation of the restrictions applied.

“Based on the foregoing, the PTF today submitted its 7th Interim Report to Mr. President for his consideration and approval.

“The main thrust of the recommendation is that Nigeria advances to the third phase of eased restrictions with further amendments, to address economic, socio-political and health concerns. This will last till a time when the epidemic is sufficiently controlled in Nigeria.

“Accordingly, Mr. President has considered and approved the following: Transition into the third Phase of the National Response to COVID-19 for a period of four weeks with effect from 12.01 am on Friday 4th September, 2020 in line with amendments to address economic, socio-political and health considerations reflected in the implementation guidelines.”

He indicated that the PTF would continue engagement with states and local governments in a bid to improve community sensitisation on COVID-19.

Mustapha also urging state governments to work with local government authorities to intensify necessary measures such as contact tracing, grassroots engagement and risk communication.

“We will continue to strengthen the collaboration between the federal and state organs to harmonise the country’s COVID-19 response, in the short, medium and long-term basis; and Imintroduction of sanctions including the suspension of passports or denial of foreign travels for violation of current provisional travel related quarantine protocols.

“The objective is to: sustain a robust multi-sectoral national response; Ensure that we successfully navigate the community spread stage of the pandemic; Strengthen our health system and other socio-economic infrastructure to enable them meet our national aspirations,” the SGF said.

The SGF also said l as Nigeria opens up its airspace to international flights on September 5th, the PTF was concerned about the rising number of Coronavirus cases in South Africa and Ethiopia.

According to him,  the concerns stem from the volume of passengers from the two countries into Nigeria.

“South Africa still has the highest case count in Africa but has fallen from the fifth to the sixth position in the world. In Ethiopia, the numbers have been on the increase.

“Both South Africa and Ethiopia are of interest to Nigeria in view of the passenger traffic between Nigeria and the two countries and our plans to reopen the international air space,” the PTF Chairman said.