PTF contradicts Lai Mohammed, says FG considering another lockdown

The Nigerian government says it is considering a fresh lockdown as more COVID-19 tests return positive.

The National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Sani Aliyu, stated this at a briefing in Abuja.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, had said the government had no plan to impose a fresh lockdown as the country battles what experts call a second wave of coronavirus infections.

Aliyu, however, said rising COVID-19 infections were concerning and might require a fresh lockdown.

“If these numbers continue to go up and we start having significant deaths, we will have no option,” Aliyu said on Thursday.

“If we do not want to lock down, now is the time to make sure that we follow the non-pharmaceutical interventions.”

Similarly, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, who spoke earlier, said:

“The Presidential Task Force is very concerned about the increasing daily numbers that we are recording.

“On the 6th of January 2021, we recorded 1,664 infections.

“This is yet another all-time high in Nigeria and we must all take full responsibility through compliance and vigilance.”