By Ife Osemedua
As the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic moves across the country, Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed, has reassured Nigerians that the Federal Government will not impose a fresh lockdown on Nigeria.
He gave the assurance at a press conference in Lagos on Monday.
While stressing that Nigerians should adhere to all protocols outlined by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Mohammed said, “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 practicing social distancing, washing hands, of ensuring that they do 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.”
The have been fears among Nigerians that Federal Government would order another lockdown across the country as infection figures continue to soar.
365Daily recalls that during an earlier lockdown in March 2020 which lasted for over 5 weeks in the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and Ogun States, businesses, especially in the tourism and hospitality sector, and other activities suffered, leading to loss of jobs and a subsequent recession of the nation’s economy.
Reports say that the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry put the loss at about N3bn.