Decries Gross Violation of Standard Protocols, Warns Against Backlash
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo has said that banks and other commercial institutions need to open up all its branches, so as to avoid the horrible scenes observed around the banks’ premises which could pose severe danger of infection of COVID-19 as well as compromising measures put in place to tackle the spread of the Pandemic.
This is just as he expressed dissatisfaction over the deliberate continued violation of the new guidelines which include social distancing, wearing of masks at public places among others set up as part of measures to check the spread of Corona Virus, pandemic in the country.
Adebayo made this known at the weekly briefing of the Emergency Operation Centre of the Committee on Sustainable Production and Delivery of Essential Commodities During COVID-19.
He said the President and Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari in a nationwide broadcast while directing the easing of a five weeks lockdown in Lagos, Ogun States and the Federal Capital Territory gave clear guidelines on the first phase of the new measures spanning 4th -17th May, 2020 by “imploring all Nigerians to continue to adhere strictly to the advisories published by the Presidential Task Force and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Contro,l which include regular hand washing, strict mandatory use of face masks or coverings in public, maintaining physical distancing and personal hygiene, avoidance of non-essential movement and travels and avoidance of large gatherings, restrictions on social and religious gatherings”.
Adebayo further expressed satisfaction with the conduct of security agencies in carrying out their duties by ensuring that the President’s directives of “free-flow and unhindered movement of Foods, Pharmaceuticals, Medical Equipments and other Essential Commodities across the country” is complied with.
The Minister, however, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing his Permanent Secretary, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo who is the supervisor of the Emergency Operation Centre as the Leader of the Presidential Delegation to Tackle COVID-19 in Kano State.
