COVID-19: No plan for second lockdown, says Lai Mohammed

Information Minister Lai Mohammed says the federal government is not considering enforcing another lockdown as being speculated in some quarters.

With the recent spike in numbers of Coronavirus disease infection, reports said the government was weighing imposing another lockdown to whittle down infections.

But speaking at a conference in Lagos today Mr Mohammed said the country was yet to recover from the tremendous effects of the one enforced last year. He also appealed to Nigerians to adhere to all protocols outlined by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

“On the issue of lockdown, I don’t think there is any time when the Federal Government has said it is going to have a second lockdown. However, the Federal Government is very unhappy that Nigerians are not adhering to the basic Covid-19 protocols of wearing face masks, or practicising social distancing, of washing hands, of ensuring that they do gather in large numbers,” the minister said.

“If we do not do these, the surge will continue and with the new strain of Covid-19 which is becoming much more difficult to handle than the old strain, the Federal Government will continue to insist and encourage Nigerians to please obey the Covid-19 protocols.

“The Federal Government is aware of the economic and social implications of a second lockdown but we want to call on Nigerians to help us, help themselves and help the economy, by adhering strictly to the Covid-19 protocols” he added.