By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
The Federal Government has debunked reports in the media that it has reintroduced new restrictions on COVID-19.
Peoples Daily recalls that the Head of Technical Secretariat of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, Dr Mukhtar Mohammed, told newsmen on Monday that the curfew, will be from 12a.m to 4a.m.
He added that night clubs, gyms and others would remain closed till further notice.
But the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed refuted return of curfew at a meeting with Online Publishers in Lagos, adding that there were no new restrictions.
He added that the Presidential Steering Committee on Covid-19 only reiterated existing regulations to control spread of the disease.
The minister, a member of the steering committee, said the committee’s national incident manager Mukhtar Mohammed was quoted out of context during the briefing of the committee on Monday in Abuja.
He said the only thing that was newly introduced was that anyone, including Nigerians travelling from Brazil, Turkey or India, must go through compulsory quarantine.
“What we did was the need to remind people of the existing extant regulations on Covid-19.
“Government has not introduced anything new. You can still travel by air or road or any other means but ensure you wear your face mask.
“We have not opened night clubs, the regulations on social distancing, social and religious gatherings, use of face mask are still in place.
“The curfew between 12 a.m. and 4 a.m. is still on and we are saying people must obey the existing protocols,’’ he said.
The minister said the emphasis became imperative because Nigerians were taking things for granted and behaving as if COVID-19 had gone.
He said India made the same mistake and they were paying dearly for it at the moment
“This is the mistake that India made when they actually boasted they had conquered Covid-19.
“They were holding political campaigns and religious festivals when a new variant of COVID -19 surfaced.
“Today, they are recording more than 400,000 case per day and about 4,000 lives lost daily.
“This is why every citizen must know where we are going,’’ he said.
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