COVID-19: PRESIDENT BUHARI EXTENDS MANDATE OF PTF TILL MARCH 2021
President Muhammadu Buhari has extended the mandate of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 till the end of March 2021, bearing in mind the new surge in the number of cases and the bid for vaccines.
In a statement via his Twitter handle on Tuesday, December 22, Buhari said Nigeria cannot afford to lose the gains of the last nine months.
He gave the approval on Tuesday during his meetiing with members of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 over the surge in infection cases in the country held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
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At the meeting, President Buhari received the end-of-year report of the task force led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha.
The President said "I have critically evaluated the situation and remain convinced that urgent measures have to be taken to halt the spread of the Coronavirus and the attendant fatalities.
"There is also the need to speedily and strategically access and administer the COVID vaccine in a safe, effective and timely manner. This is an important obligation that we owe Nigerians as we go into year 2021, and it must be carried out through an efficient machinery."
Reiterating the importance of collective efforts of all to curb the spread of the infection, the President urged all sub-national entities, traditional rulers, religious and leaders of thought to collaborate with the PTF by taking up the responsibility for risk communication and community engagement at all levels.
"As the festive season approaches, I urge all Nigerians to remain vigilant and stay safe. Non-essential trips and large social gatherings should be avoided or shelved completely," he added.
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