FCT Minister reveals new measures to control spread of coronavirus in Nigeria

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Malam Muhammad Bello, has revealed new measures to control coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nigeria.

Due to the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nigeria, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Malam Muhammad Bello, has revealed new measures to curtail the spread of the deadly coronavirus pandemic in Abuja.

The Minister said that a constitution of five enforcement teams to ensure compliance of already laid down COVID-19 preventive strategies would be deployed in the Federal Capital Territory.

This was made known during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday and was contained in a statement signed by the Minister’s Chief Press Secretary, Anthony Ogunleye.

The FCT Minister stated that a team would monitor and ensure adherence of preventive measures in event centers, night clubs, restaurants, and markets.

Mallam Bello further explained that another team would monitor compliance in motor parks, bus terminals, and taxis, while the third will monitor and ensure compliance in places of worship.

Mallam Bello also stated that a fourth team will ensure compliance in educational institutions, while the fifth will ensure compliance at the Area Councils.

He said in the statement that, “The respective Area Council Chairmen would also constitute these teams in their domains.

“The whole idea is to encourage FCT residents to abide by the regulations and where necessary, to enforce, and we have the full support of all the appropriate security agencies.

“Restaurants have been instructed to provide their services but only in the manner of allowing customers to take what they call a takeaway.

“Sitting within enclosed restaurant facilities are discouraged, unless, of course, within established hotels where the principle of social distancing will be adopted.”

Malam Bello also revealed that businesses could only operate between the hours of 6 am and 9 pm on the advice of security agencies and health authorities effective from Friday, March 27. He released the following phone numbers to the Call Center; 08099936312, 08099936313, 08099936314, 07080631500, and 112, for the National Emergency. He encouraged people to use these numbers and assist in the monitoring and prompt divulging of useful information that might aid the authorities in the fight against COVID-19.

On the other hand, the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, had revealed on Thursday that the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Nigeria now rises to sixty-five (65).