REMARKS BY THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERATION/CHAIRMAN, COVID-19, PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE (PTF) AT THE FIRST JOINT NATIONAL BRIEFING (MONDAY 30TH MARCH, 2020)
Protocols,
I stand before you as the Chairman of the PTF on COVID-19 to kick start the Joint Daily National Briefing on developments around the country. The briefing will henceforth hold daily at 2.00p.m. at this venue.
2. The objectives of the joint Briefing include the following:
i. Furnish Nigerians with authoritative, adequate and multi sectoral information on the National Response;
ii. Receive feedback through your comments and questions for further processing and improvement; and
iii. Minimize mis-information through fake news
For these reasons, all relevant Ministers, the National Coordinator and Heads of Agencies will interface with the press through this platform.
3. For the avoidance of doubt, this joint briefing shall, going forward, be the only official daily brief by the PTF. It will however be supplemented by other forms of outreach such as media appearances by Ministers, Social media and telecommunication platforms.
4. In view of the fact that this is the first joint briefing, let me reiterate the following:
The response strategy of the PTF shall remain focused on testing, detection, contact tracing, containment, slowing down the spread and management of coronavirus. A lot of questions have been asked by the public about testing and the PTF is always willing to provide relevant information and clarifications;
Several measures have been put in place by government to address the problems posed by COVID-19 Disease. The PTF has been methodical, learning from the experiences of other nations and adapting solutions that suit our environment. These include measures such as:
Enforcing Social distancing
Advising on Personal hygiene
Closure of air/land and sea borders
Banning mass gathering above 50 persons
Restricting movements in high burden areas such as Lagos and Abuja
Aggressive contact tracing and isolation of cases
Improving medical infrastructure, expanding testing capabilities and establishing new isolation centers
5. The PTF remains the Strategic Decision and Coordinating Body for the National Response on COVID 19. It is important to state that a National Response Strategy for COVID-19 has been developed and is being constantly reviewed as dictated by developments.
6. In the President’s broadcast on Sunday, 29 March, 2020, he announced far reaching measures aimed at containing the spread of the coronavirus. For economic sustainability, Mr. President has, today, approved the constitution of a Committee to be chaired by His Excellency, the Vice President. The Terms of Reference of the Committee will be announced soon. Similarly, Mr. President has approved the exemption of the Financial Services Sector from the restrictions, to allow skeletal operations in the financial system and money markets in order to keep system in light operations during this period.
7. 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.
8. Ladies and Gentlemen, I shall now yield the podium to the Honourable Minister of Health to update you on new developments.
Other Ministers will take their turn according to the nature of questions asked.
