Buhari: Govt’s directives won’t affect food, medications

TRACKING____President Muhammadu Buhari has given the assurance that all directives given by the government on movement and gatherings will not affect production and distribution of food, medications, medical equipment and other essentials as the nation wades through the global health challenge, which already portends dire economic strains.

The President, yesterday, commended the unity of purpose in fighting the spread of COVID-19 in the country, particularly the willingness for self-isolation, social distancing and contributions of public spirited individuals and institutions who consistently mobilize resources to supplement efforts of federal and state governments.

Buhari extoled state governments, religious bodies, health workers, Federal Government agencies, including security outfits, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) for rising to the occasion to protect the country and its citizens.

The President, according to a statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, assured that the government will remain steadfast in deploying more resources to lessen the burden of the pandemic.

While calling for more compliance with regulations and restrictions on movement and gatherings for the safety of all citizens, President Buhari further reassures that government’s directives will not affect production and distribution of food, medications, medical equipment and other essentials as the nation wades through the global health challenge, which already portends dire economic strains.

The President directed all relevant agencies and regulators to provide enabling environment for industries to sustain their operations by ensuring reasonable access to industrial supplies and inputs like water, fuel, gas and essential infrastructure and relaxing of stringent laws.

He commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and commercial banks for the interventions to make forex and credit more accessible to those on the manufacturing line.

In giving assurances of firm support for the manufacturers by proactively addressing the potential impact of the pandemic on the Nigerian economy, the President requested that all necessary measures be put in place to protect and promote the health and safety of industrial workers.

He called on all leaders across the country, including religious and traditional leaders, to further support the federal and state governments in the ongoing sensitization programmes on the need to stay at home and keep a safe distance in the public, and to dissuade citizens from panic buying and rumour mongering.

The President affirmed that the collective effort of all Nigerians will make a historic difference in checking the spread of COVID-19, rehabilitating those already affected and keeping citizens alive.

Meanwhile, the President has ordered the prompt release of N10 billion special intervention fund for Lagos State for the management of COVID-19 pandemic.

He said: ”With regard to the request by the government of Lagos State for financial support to combat and contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Lagos and Nigeria, the President has already approved the sum of N10 billion which was released within two days of the request,” he disclosed.

According to him, these measures are in addition to the ones approved and announced by the Presidential Task Force (PTF), including the closure of land borders to human traffic for four weeks and the conversion of all Hajj transit camps to COVID-19 isolation centres.