Coronavirus Pandemic, Featured
By Anayo Ezugwu
BOSS Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation and chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, has praised his involvement in the 8th-anniversary lecture of Realnews Magazine and Publications Limited. He said the lecture, which held on Thursday, November 19, in Lagos, afforded the PTF the opportunity to share its experience with a global audience of participants, who joined virtually.
Speaking at the PTF national briefing on Monday, November 23, Mustapha, who was the guest lecturer at the Realnews anniversary lecture, also warned Nigerians not to travel during the Christmas festivities.
He warned that during the Christmas and New Year festivities, large social gatherings should also be avoided because there is a bigger risk of COVID-19 transmission.
“The PTF has similarly been engaged in experience sharing, awareness creation and the strengthening of collaborative platforms. In this regard, I am pleased to inform you that the National Coordinator on my behalf, presented a paper on “Managing COVID-19 Global Pandemic in Nigeria: the NIGERIA EXPERIENCE” at the 8th Anniversary Lecture of Realnews Magazine and Publications held in Lagos on Thursday 19th November, 2020. This afforded the PTF the opportunity to share its experience with a global audience of participants who joined virtually.
“Within the last two weeks, flights from Europe (the Air France, Lufthansa and KLM) resumed their operations into Nigeria, subject to details agreed to with the aviation authorities. Though the National Coordinator will provide the details, the various guidelines and the testing regime prescribed for in-bound passengers shall remain strictly in force. We shall continue to study the challenges encountered and reinforce the protocols as the need arises, considering the new wave around the world.
“Now that European airlines have joined others operating into Nigeria, the PTF still considers it highly necessary to caution as always, against non-essential trips (especially to high burden destinations) because the world is now experiencing a new wave of the pandemic, more than ever before. Ahead of the upsurge in travels for the Christmas and New Year festivities, we urge strongly that for this year, such trips should be put on hold firmly because of the risks involved. The transmission rate has simply become astronomical.
“The PTF similarly finds it necessary to mention that during the Christmas and New Year festivities, large social gatherings should also be avoided because there is a bigger risk of COVID-19 transmission. New clusters of cases can emerge in places that have so far been unaffected as people travel and gather for festivities. But we can lower the risks by adhering to the NPIs and celebrate, safely. There will always be many more festive seasons to celebrate,” he said.
Mustapha advised Nigerians that the developments at home and around the world particularly in the United States of America and in Europe remain major sources of concern to the PTF. This, according to him, is particularly so because risk perception is low in-country; compliance with non-pharmaceutical measures is extremely low to the extent that Nigerians now think COVID-19 is no more; the response of citizens to testing and detection is very low; the risk of importation will be higher with the opening of our airspace; and the numbers in Nigeria, though appearing low over the last two weeks, has been rising gradually.
“We are all aware that the pandemic has taken a toll on global economy generally. Several economies have been reported to have gone into recession. This is going to exert more pressure on our national response and the level of compliance of our citizens. Nigeria’s economy shrank from -6.10 percent in the second quarter of 2020 to -3.62 percent in the third quarter of 2020. Although this is still in the negative territory, it is a positive indication that by the first quarter of 2021 we should come out of recession given the targets and objectives of the revised 2020 Budget.
“This is bolstered by the fact that the Economic Sustainability Plan, ESP, is on course and its implementation would be intensified. Last week, the Federal Executive Council passed the Finance Bill initiated by the Executive. It contains several incentives that are business-friendly and targeted at easing the burden as well as promoting businesses. I urge all citizens to keep the faith and prepare themselves to meet all conditions required to access the various windows available to support businesses and entities under the Economic Sustainability Plan.”
– Nov. 24, 2020 @ 14:55 GMT |
Tags: COVID-19: Realnews lecture afforded us opportunity to share our experience – Mustapha
