The presidency, through the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, lamented Nigerians non-compliance with the stated guidelines on the gradual suspension of the lockdown.
The PTF Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha expressed the FG displeasure at the PTF press conference on Wednesday.
Mustapha said the attitude of Nigerians’ non-compliance and disregard for the inter-state movement ban and other guidelines was an indication of the danger ahead.
President Muhammadu Buhari on April 27 banned interstate movement. The PTF later issued a guideline on social distancing and allowed not more than 20 people in any gathering.
However, there had been reports of trucks carrying youths from the northern part of the country, they have been finding their ways to the south.
According to Mustapha, early assessment of the lockdown ease showed that many Nigerians had yet to come to terms with deadlines and the deadly nature of the COVID-19.
He said there is danger ahead if Nigerians continue to defy social distancing and other guidelines released by the PTF.
He made it known that the worries of the PTF included non-compliance with social/physical distancing guidelines, citing the congregation of people in banks, traffic gridlocks, entry points of metropolitan areas, and disregard for guidelines on carrying capacity of vehicles.
He lamented the increased level of interstate movements, concealment of people carrying foods, unhygienic and ill-advised use, and sharing of masks.
According to, “The overall assessment of compliance with the measures and the outcome of modeling we have developed, point in the direction of danger ahead. We, therefore, need personal discipline, increased awareness, and enforcement.”
The PTF chairman and SGF also identified with the challenges encountered at banks.
He stated, “I wish to repeat my call to the banks to also quickly address issues related to difficulty with using their online platforms, especially revalidating expired ATM cards, among others.”
