COVID-19: PTF urges Nigerians to utilize FG’s stimulus packages

Fri, Aug 14, 2020
By editor
2 MIN READ

Coronavirus Pandemic

By Anayo Ezugwu

BOSS Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, has urged Nigerians to take advantage of the federal government’s effort to cushion the effect of the pandemic on the nation’s economy. He said the government had put in place an Economic Sustainability Plan to prevent the economy from going into recession.

Speaking at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 press briefing on Thursday, August 13, Mustapha said the plan was backed by a stimulus package in the sum of N2.6 trillion to boost local economies and production, for all sizes of businesses, including small family businesses. According to him, it is important for businesses in the country to take advantage of the stimulus package to revive their businesses and give them a boost.

Giving an update on the outbreak of COVID-19 in Nigeria, Mustapha noted that the country has reported fewer numbers of confirmed cases in the last two weeks. He, however, warned that the reports should not be misconstrued as a victory over the virus.

“The PTF wishes to note as we have done before that fewer numbers of confirmed cases have been recorded in the last two weeks. This should never be misconstrued as a victory over the virus. There is still a serious battle to be fought ahead of us as a people and as a country. It is, important, therefore, that we continue to build on our successes and not do anything to detract from them.

“Our Risk Communication and Community Engagement messaging and consultations have been intensified, to drive the level of awareness and compliance to the wider population using media and platforms that are most effective generally and specifically. We wish to appeal to all Nigerians to exercise caution and restraint at all times. I wish to note, however, that from the reports for yesterday 12th August 2020 no fatality was recorded,” he said.

The SGF also gave an update on the ongoing exercise to evacuate Nigerians stranded in various countries as a result of the pandemic. He revealed that a total of 14,906 people have been evacuated during the COVID-19 pandemic and almost 80 percent of them were youths.

– Aug. 14, 2020 @ 13.05 GMT |

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