Coronavirus: Buhari extends curfew time, extends PTF tenure

President Muhammadu Buhari led Government has extended the time for the curfew fixed due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Onyxnews Nigeria reports that the curfew time which was 10pm to 4am is now 12 midnight to 4am.

The National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Dr. Sani Aliyu, made known the development on Thursday during the daily COVID-19 briefing in Abuja.

Aliyu’s briefing followed the presentation by the Chairman of the PTF on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, in which he announced the approval by President Muhammadu Buhari of its Seventh Interim Report.

Boss Mustapha said: “The main thrust of the recommendation is that Nigeria advances to the third phase of eased restrictions with further amendments, to address economic, socio-political and health concerns.

“This will last till a time when the epidemic is sufficiently controlled in Nigeria.

“Accordingly, Mr. President has considered and approved the following:

“i. Transition into the third Phase of the National Response to COVID-19 for a period of four weeks with effect from 12.01 am on Friday 4th September, 2020 in line with amendments to address economic, socio-political and health considerations reflected in the implementation guidelines;

“ii. Continued engagement with States and Local Governments to improve community sensitisation on the response;

“iii. Maintaining the current non-pharmaceutical interventions nationwide;

“iv. Urging the State governments to work with Local Government authorities in their states to intensify necessary measures such as contact tracing, grassroots engagement and risk communication;

“v. Strengthening the collaboration between the Federal and State organs to harmonise the country’s COVID-19 response, in the short, medium and long-term basis; and

“vi. Introduction of sanctions including the suspension of passports or denial of foreign travels for violation of current provisional travel related quarantine protocols.

“Mr. President has similarly considered the fact that the six-month mandate of the PTF will expire this month and has therefore extended it till the end of December, 2020. The objective is to:

“(i) Sustain a robust multi-sectoral national response;

“(ii) Ensure that we successfully navigate the community spread stage of the pandemic;

(iii) Strengthen our health system and other socio-economic infrastructure to enable them meet our national aspirations.

“The National Coordinator will now provide the details of changes to the guidelines and protocols.”