COVID-19: Nigerian govt reveals why it eased lockdown 

The Nigerian government has revealed why it decided to ease the coronavirus lockdown last week.

Speaking through the National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Dr. Aliyu Sani, the government said it took the decision because it wanted to create an opportunity to cushion the effect on Nigerians.

According to him, it was also to pave the way for re-establishment of some economic activities towards the gradual re-opening of the country’s economy.

Sani said this while revealing that the PTF had called state security agencies and state structures to provide support that will ensure compliance with the eased lockdown guidelines.

He also appealed to citizens to cooperate with the state security agencies in the interest of public safety.

“There is a very good reason why the PTF eased the lockdown last week. It was partly because we wanted to provide an opportunity to cushion Nigerians and by extension, opportunities for business to re-establish some economic activities towards the gradual re-opening of the Nigerian economy.

“We also had a bundle of measures which we realised, if fully implemented, if fully delivered by everybody, would have the same impact with that of an absolute lockdown.”