Security Agents Are Allowing The Violation of Interstate Lockdown-NGF

• Passengers Are Hidden in Food Trucks And Smuggled Across Borders- PTF

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Wednesday decried the non-compliance of Nigerians with guidelines on the gradual reopening of the economy.

The task force Chairman, Boss Mustapha, who stated this at the PTF press conference in Abuja, said disregard for the ban on interstate movements and other guidelines was an indication of the danger ahead.

Buttressing this, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum said that security agencies must live up to their responsibilities by stopping violation of the ban on interstate movements. The NGF stated this as the Arewa Consultative Forum hit northern governors on the shoddy implementation of the evacuation of Almajiris to their states of origin.

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The President Buhari (retd.), had, in his broadcast on April 27, banned interstate movements. The PTF a few days later issued guidelines on social distancing and the ban on any gathering of more than 20 people. But despite the ban on interstate movements, trucks carrying youths from the northern parts of the country have been finding their way into the south.

Assessing compliance with guidelines, the PTF chairman, Mustapha, said an early assessment of the ease of lockdown indicated that Nigerians had yet to come to terms with the deadliness and the virulent nature of the COVID-19.

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According to him, if Nigerians continue to disregard social distancing and other guidelines released by the PTF, there is danger ahead. Mustapha said some of the PTF worries included non-compliance with social/physical distancing guidelines evidenced by higher-than-advised congregation of people in banks, traffic gridlocks, especially at entry points to metropolitan areas and disregard for guidelines on carrying capacity of vehicles.

He lamented that there was an increased level of interstate movements worsened by the dubious concealment of people in vehicles carrying foods, and unhygienic and ill-advised use and sharing of masks especially multiple fittings before buying from vendors.

He said, “The overall assessment of compliance with the measures and the outcome of modelling we have developed, point in the direction of danger ahead. We therefore need personal discipline, increased awareness and enforcement.”

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The PTF chairman also recognised the challenges encountered at banks. He stated, “I wish to repeat my call to the banks to also quickly address issues related to difficulty with using their online platforms, especially revalidating expired ATM cards, among others.”

He also urged transportation unions to educate their members on the ban imposed on interstate travels. “In view of the fact that public transportation is a major clustering area through which the virus can easily be transmitted, we call on the leadership of various transport unions to properly enlighten their members on the danger associated with non-adherence to the COVID-19 containment guidelines.

“Once again, we appeal to the governors to please align their plan for the movement of almajiris with the ban imposed by the President. We shall intensify our dialogue on this matter.”

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However, the NGF challenged security agencies to ensure that the ban on inter-state movements was not violated. In spite of the ban, trucks carrying hundreds of youths from the northern part of the country have been finding their ways into southern states such as Ondo, Lagos and Delta.

The Head of Media and Public Affairs of the NGF, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, said security agencies had the responsibility of enforcing the ban on interstate movements.

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