We Don’t Know When Lockdown Will End – FG Tells Nigerians

The Federal Government has declared that it can not fix a definite time frame to end the lockdown put in place in some parts of the country over the coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.

This, it said is due to the fact that it did not know how long COVID-19 would last in the country.

The Secretary to the Government of Federation, Boss Mustapha, made this known on Monday at a press conference he jointly addressed with the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, in Abuja.

Mustapha, said, “We don’t know how long this thing will last. That’s the truth about it. I believe with sheer determination of all Nigerians, we will overcome these challenges.

“We are doing everything to ensure conformity of policies with state governments. We will do everything within our power to stop the case.”

Naija News recalls President Muhammadu Buhari had on Sunday, 29th March as part of efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, ordered the lockdown of Abuja, the nation’s capital city as well as, Lagos, and Ogun states for an initial period of 14 days.

However, on Monday, the Ogun State Government said it had got the presidential permission to shift the lockdown to Friday.

Speaking further on Monday, Mustapha added, “Let me use this medium to appeal to all Nigerians, through you, for full understanding, unity of purpose and in the interest of humanity, to observe all measures put in place, remain vigilant and cooperate with security and other agencies who are toiling day and night to keep us safe and alive.”

On his part, the Minister of health, Osagie Ehanire said Nigeria is maximizing its little resources to cater to those already infected by the virus adding that no country could boast of having enough ventilators.

“The question of ventilators; yes we are addressing it. There is no country in this world that has enough ventilators. Of all the cases we have had so far only one requires a ventilator. Some require just Oxygen. Probably less than four per cent of the cases we are dealing with require ventilators.

“Government is also taking inventory of what each state requires. The number of ventilators you have in the country does not decide your rate of survival.”

The Minister added that the Federal Government was working hard to open up as many testing sites as possible.

He said, “We project that in three weeks, seven more laboratories in Abakiliki, Kaduna, Kano, Maiduguri, Port Harcourt and Sokoto will be added to this network to further expand testing capacity nationwide.”