Governors have advised President Muhammadu Buhari to relax the curfew was imposed on some states last month in an effort to restrict the virus from taking its toll on the citizens.
They urged the president to relax the lockdown within these states and restrict inter-stead movement while the restriction on large gatherings and compulsory use of face masks in public places is enforced.
The call comes just as the nation is expecting the president to intensify its measures in the fight against the virus. More so, the four weeks lockdown imposed on Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States by the president draws to a close on Monday.
Their recommendations are contained in an April 24 memo to the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.
The letter was signed by the Ekiti State governor and chairman of the governors’ forum, Kayode Fayemi.
“Recall at that meeting, it was agreed that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) articulates the issues that it would want to be included in the next Presidential Pronouncement on Covid-19 so as to have a Uniform and Coordinated Policy on Covid-19 at both the national and sub-national levels,” it stated
The governors called for nationwide inter-state lockdown that excludes movement of essential supplies — foods, beverages, medical and pharmaceuticals, petroleum supplies, and agricultural products.
They also recommended internal free movement but with restrictions on large gatherings and assemblies overnight curfews, the lockdown of flights, and compulsory use of face masks/coverings in the public.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that the governors during the virtual meeting with Mr. Osinbajo called for the decentralisation of the activities of the COVID-19 response from federal to local governments to curtail the further spread.
It is not clear if Mr. Buhari would accept the governors’ recommendations if passed to him.
Willy Bassey, who speaks for the SGF, said he was not aware of the letter.
As of now, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has confirmed 1095 cases in 28 states, leaving 32 persons dead and 208 discharged.
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