The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has announced the extension of the current phase two of eased lockdown by one week.
With the extension, the phase which was initially scheduled to end on July 29, will now end on August 6.
The Chairman of the task force and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, disclosed this at the PTF press briefing on Monday in Abuja.
Mustapha said, “The PTF has continued to evaluate the developments, as well as the level of compliance nationwide, and has regrettably come to the inevitable conclusion that majority of Nigerians, irrespective of status, creed and level of education, continue to live in denial on the virulent nature of the virus and consistently breach the guidelines and non-pharmaceutical measures put in place.
“We informed you two weeks ago that the process of submitting the 6th interim report and recommendations for next steps had commenced. The PTF has reached advanced stages of the process.
“It has also considered that due to the upcoming Sallah (Eid El-Kabir) festivities which coincide with the expiration of the current phase, it would be prudent to extend by one week, from July 29, 2020, till Thursday, August 6, 2020.
“It has accordingly secured permission to retain the existing guidelines till that date.”
Mustapha added that the PTF and the aviation sector were working hard to fast-track reopening of international airspace.
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He explained that arrival protocols for passengers on inbound flights are being firmed up for seamless testing and detection while relevant MDAs will be holding further consultations.
While noting the increasing number of states that had shelved Eid-el-Kabir activities, he urged others yet to do so to follow suit.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian High Commission has announced the closure of Air Peace evacuation flight from the United Kingdom scheduled for August 8, as all seats have been fully booked.
The High Commission, in a statement on Monday, said, “Further to the notice of July 25, 2020, the High Commission wishes to inform that the evacuation flight scheduled for August 8, 2020, is now fully booked and seats are no longer available.
“In this regard, all prospective evacuees who have not already made payments for the flight are strongly advised not to do so.
“The Mission will endeavour to make necessary arrangements to schedule another flight, details of which will be communicated in due course,” the commission stated.
