The federal government has made a u-turn on the COVID-19 lockdown restriction earlier re-introduced on Monday.
The Nigerian government had on Monday shut bars, recreational centres, and set limits to public gatherings and also introduced the nationwide curfew from 12 a.m to 4 a.m. with effect from the midnight of May 11, 2021.
The National Incident Manager of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC), Dr. Mukhtar Muhammed announced the new measures as contained in the new guidelines on Phase Four of Ease of Lockdown.
Speaking at the PSC media briefing in Abuja yesterday, he said the federal government embarked on the new measures as a response to the concern about the non-compliance to public health and social measures contained in the Health Protection Regulation of 2021.
But speaking on Tuesday, the FG through Lai Mohammed, Information and Culture Minister, urged Nigerians to disregard a lockdown order imposed yesterday by the federal government.
Recall that FG re-introduced a nationwide 12am to 4am curfew as part of efforts to curtail further spread of COVID-19.
This prompted #lockdown trending on Twitter yesterday.
However in a video obtained by DAILY GIST, Lai urged Nigerians to debunk the news.
“Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, urges Nigerians to disregard any news of a new lockdown by the Federal Government to control the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. He says (the) news has been reported out of context.”
Lai Mohammed stated that there were no new restrictions.
He said that the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 only reiterated existing regulations to control spread of the disease.
According to Lai Mohammed, the only thing that was newly introduced was that anyone, including Nigerians travelling from Brazil, Turkey or India, must go through compulsory quarantine.
He said: “What we did was the need to remind people of the existing extant regulations on COVID-19.
“Government has not introduced anything new. You can still travel by air or road or any other means but ensure you wear your face mask.
“We have not opened nightclubs, the regulations on social distancing, social and religious gatherings, use of face masks are still in place.
“The curfew between 12:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. is still on and we are saying people must obey the existing protocols.”
