The Federal Government has announced the freedom to embark on interstate travels in the country.
Similarly, it has granted the permission for the reopening of schools for graduating students in readiness for examinations.
This is as the government said it would extend the current phase of the lockdown in the country to prevent the spread of coronavirus by four weeks.
It would be recalled that ban on interstate travels and closure of schools were some of the measures taken by the government to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The latest decisions on interstate travels among others by the the government were announced on Monday by the chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha.
In his speech at the briefing of his committee on Monday in Abuja, he said the decisions were with the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari.
His words: “I am pleased to inform you that Mr. President has carefully considered the 5th Interim Report of the PTF and has accordingly approved that, with the exception of some modifications to be expatiated upon later, the Phase Two of the eased lockdown be extended by another four weeks with effect from Tuesday, June 30, 2020 through Midnight of Monday, 27 July, 2020.
“Specifically, however, the following measures shall either remain in place or come into effect:
“i. Maintaining the current phase of the national response, for another four weeks in line with modifications to be expatiated by the National Coordinator;
“ii. Permission of movement across state borders only outside curfew hours with effect from 1st July, 2020;
“iii. Enforcement of laws around non-pharmaceutical interventions by States, in particular, the use of face masks in public places;
“iv. Safe re-opening of schools to allow students in graduating classes resume in-person in preparation for examinations;
“v. Safe reopening of domestic aviation services as soon as practicable;
“vi. Publication of revised guidelines around the three thematic areas of general movement, industry and labour; and community activities…”
Meanwhile the government has warned that there might be a resurgence of the virus if Nigerians continued to ignore some of the measures put in place to prevent the spread of the disease.
Mustapha emphasized that there was no known cure for the disease, hence the need to strictly adhere to measures that would prevent the spread.
Said he: “As we are all aware, the PTF in conjunction with sub-national entities, the organized private sector, put in places a number of measures. The PTF also escalated its activities around risk communication to Nigerians but we have observed with growing concern the non-compliances with these measures designed to prevent transmission and protect vulnerable segments of the population. We hold the strong view that if such actions do not abate, experiences of resurgence of the virus from other jurisdictions including China, the United States of America, Brazil and across Europe may emerge in Nigeria and we run the risk of erasing the gains made in the last three months.
“By way of a reminder, there is presently no known vaccine for the virus and that all over the world non-pharmaceutical measures still remain the most effective fighting opportunity we have for overcoming this pandemic.”
