Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha, has clarified the confusion in the briefing of the PSC on Monday.
Following the Monday briefing, media reports claimed that the Federal Government has reintroduced nationwide curfew between 12:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. as part of the COVID-19 safety protocols.
But Mustapha, speaking to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, explained that the reports were wrong.
He said that the announcement by the National Incident Manager, Dr Mukhtar Mohammed, during the PSC news conference was misinterpreted because the Federal Government did not relax the curfew imposed earlier under Phase Three of the eased lockdown.
Clarifying what Mohammed said, Mustapha explained “that the Federal Government was maintaining the curfew under the Phase Four of the phased restriction of movement.”
He said, “Under the Fourth Phase of restriction of movement, night clubs, gyms and others will remain closed till further notice; while all citizens will also ensure that mass gathering outside work settings do not exceed a maximum of 50 people in an enclosed space.
“These restrictions have been in existence under the Third Phase but are being maintained under Phase Four of the phased restriction of movement.”
According to him, because people had been violating the safety protocols, they had forgotten that the protocols were never relaxed in the first place.
He said, “Therefore, the PSC hereby restates that there is no newly introduced lockdown. There is no need for the panic that followed the announcement of the Fourth Phase of the phased restriction of movement.
“We will continue to appeal to members of the public to comply with these restrictions because they are necessary safety measures against contracting the dreaded Coronavirus, which is still ravaging human populations across the world.
“Following the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari transition approval of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to PSC on COVID-19, which took effect from April 1, the structure of the PSC shall reflect the new focus of the response with a targeted approach on vaccine oversight, risk communication, international travel quarantine processes and sub-national engagement; and that the tenure of the PSC shall last till 31 December 2021,” he said.
According to him, the PSC would maintain the present constitution, functions and strategies of the PTF; be supported by a slim technical and administrative structure.