The Nigerian government has appealed to traders and service providers not to increase the prices of goods and commodities as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the country.
The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, made the appeal on Friday.
“To the Nigerian traders and businessmen and women, we appeal for resistance to the urge to hike prices of goods and commodities, during this period as our compassionate nature must prevail.
“This is the best time to be considerate and to show empathy for our fellow Nigerians,” Mustapha said at a briefing in Abuja.
He revealed that the task force has made progress in mobilising resources to re-enforce its preparedness and other implementation arrangements to ease the effect of coronavirus on the citizens.
The SGF added that the team has received positive reports that there has been a high level of compliance with the lockdown orders in Lagos, Ogun, and Abuja.
According to him, coronavirus remains a potential danger to all of humanity and it threatens Nigeria’s economy and national security.
Mustapha, therefore, called on the people to play their part in the national response very seriously, as the Federal Government ensure measures to curb the spread of the disease.
He also asked law enforcement agencies in the country to deploy tact and caution in the course of enforcing the lockdown, even in the face of provocation.