Buhari taking two step approach in fight against COVID-19
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that his government is taking a two step approach in the fight against Novel
The President made this know in a tweet on the Federal government’s handle @NGRPresident.
He said that “In Nigeria, we are taking a two step approach. First, to protect the lives of our fellow Nigerians and residents living here, and second, to preserve the livelihoods of workers and business owners.” — President @MBuhari on Nigeria’s National Response to #COVID19
The President also set up a Committee made up of the Minister and Minister of State @FinMinNigeria, Minister of State @FMPRng, Governor @cenbank and GMD @NNPCgroup, to assess the impact of #Covid19 on the 2020 Budget and to recommend appropriate, immediate response strategies.
He had also approved the distribution of 70,000MT of grain across the country, with a focus on the states of the #COVID19 pandemic.
“In Nigeria, we are taking a two step approach. First, to protect the lives of our fellow Nigerians and residents living here, and second, to preserve the livelihoods of workers and business owners.” — President @MBuhari on Nigeria’s National Response to #COVID19
“In Nigeria, we are taking a two step approach. First, to protect the lives of our fellow Nigerians and residents living here, and second, to preserve the livelihoods of workers and business owners.” — President @MBuhari on Nigeria’s National Response to #COVID19
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) April 12, 2020
Recall that according to
NCDC, through its verified Twitter account, said on Saturday night that the agency recorded 13 new cases of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, with 11 in Lagos, one in Delta, and another one in Kano.
It stated that there were 19 states with confirmed cases of the pandemic and majority of the active cases were in a stable condition.
“As at 9:30p.m April 11, there are 318 confirmed cases: 70 discharged; 10 deaths; Lagos- 174; FCT- 56; Osun- 20; Edo- 12; Oyo- 11; Ogun- 7; Bauchi- 6; Kaduna- 6; Akwa Ibom- 5; Katsina-4; Delta- 3; Enugu- 2; Ekiti- 2; Rivers- 2; Kwara- 2; Ondo- 2; Benue- 1; Niger- 1; Anambra- 1; Kano-1,” it stated.
Yesterday the President asked Nigerians to stay at home, listen and follow public announcements on how best to curb the spread of Coronavirus.
Buhari said: “All that 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, and that means there are choices to be made: between continuing as usual and accepting the restrictions even when they come with unintended consequences.
“At this darkest hour, it remains our duty to offer you the full and unvarnished truth: This is a global pandemic.
Two hundred and ten 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.
”So we must, and we will, end this outbreak ourselves as Nigerians together.”
Buhari, however, thanked Nigerians for their patience, resolve and strong determination to defeat the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.
The president said: “We realise that today, there will be sons and daughters unable to visit their parents, and elders that are isolated from young ones.
“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 the hardship being experienced by a cross section of Nigerians, the president revealed that the Federal Government had announced multiple measures to assist such vulnerable groups.
According to him, 70,000 tonnes of grains is being released from the National Strategic Grain Reserves for distribution to those in most need as small cash payments are also being made to them.
He gave the assurance that such payments would continue to be made by the federal government in the states and local government areas nationwide.
“We ask you to listen and follow public announcements via the mass media for instructions as to how to receive this government support, and learn
