FG reintroduces Covid-19 restrictions, shuts bars, night clubs, reimposes curfew

The Federal Government has announced the reintroduction of Covid-19 restrictions across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This follows the disturbing resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic and is also seen as part of preemptive measures to be taken to mitigate the impact of the new variants of the disease, should they be imported into the country.

The disclosure was made by the Head of Technical Secretariat of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on Covid-19, Dr Muktar Mohammed while briefing the press on Monday in Abuja.

Mohammed said that this new directive is expected to take effect by midnight of Tuesday, May 11, 2021.

The reintroduction of the Covid-19 restrictions means that mass gatherings in public spaces have been restricted to 50 people at any given time, while access to government institutions would also be denied to anyone not wearing a face mask.

Mohammed said that government meetings and travels had been limited to virtual platforms, adding that the government had directed that bars and nightclubs should remain closed and the nationwide curfew would be in force until further notice.

While stating that only essential international travels would be encouraged and all existing protocols must be strictly adhered to, the PSC member, however, stated that there was no limitation to intra-state travel.

On his part, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) who also doubles as the Chairman of PSC, Boss Mustapha, revealed that the committee had considered several pre-emptive measures to be taken to mitigate the likely impact of the variants of Covid-19, should they get imported into Nigeria.

Mustapha explained that the step became important in view of the fragile state of the nation’s health systems, the disruption to the delivery of vaccines, and the lack of compliance with the extant public health and social measures contained in the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Health Protection Regulations 2021.

Credit: Nairametrics