By Bisola Adeyemo
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Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Monday, assured the general public that the Federal Government has no plan to impose a fresh lockdown in the country.
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Mohammed made this statement during a conference in Lagos.
He appealed to Nigerians to obey the instructions and protocols outlined by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
The minister stated, “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 not gather in large numbers.
“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.”
In March 2020, The Federal Government locked down the Federal Capital Territory as well as Lagos and Ogun States for over five weeks as part of measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic.
The lockdown however had a tremendous effect on economic activities with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry putting the loss at about N3bn in the period under review.
The lockdown had negative effect in the country as many jobs were lost in airlines, hotels, banks, amongst others.
