President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday asked state governors to step up enlightenment of their people on the seriousness of COVID-19 by ensuring they stay safe.
The President said the ravaging infection is not a joke and urged the governors to work closely with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in order to make the measures targeted at containing the virus more effective
The President made this call during a virtual meeting he had with the governors.
Buhari participated in the meeting via video conferencing from the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi led members of the forum to join from other locations.
The President added that after he received a brief from the PTF’s Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, he had said that both sides should work closely.
“I have directed that they work very closely with the governors”, he said, adding, “We have to be very careful. We need to continue to educate and persuade the people to accept the reality of the situation, and do all that is necessary to stay safe.”
Buhari stated that the coronavirus was “beyond technology, power, and resources.”
According to Buhari, big countries with huge resources were overwhelmed by the pandemic, noting that this is an indication that small countries like Nigeria need to take precautionary measures more seriously.
According to Femi Adeshina, Buhari’s spokesperson, “The meeting also discussed economic and security issues, among others, with the governors commending the President on the ‘leadership and direction’ he has given the country in combating COVID-19”
Before now, some state governors had lifted the lockdown in their states, they allowed religious activities to take place in different religious places.
They had also called back the civil servants to start working and some are reported to start planning to reopen schools.
