Thursday, February 13, 2025
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Be cautious not fearful over coronavirus cases – President Buhari

Be cautious not fearful over coronavirus cases - President Buhari

President Buhari has urged Nigerians to be cautious and not fearful over the recent coronavirus cases recorded in the country.

In a statement released by his media aide Garba Shehu, the President
confirmed that he ordered the restrictions of travel from 13 countries
with more than 1,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19, and also suspended
visas issued to nationals of these countries.

Buhari who told Nigerians not to panic, maintained that his government is on top of the situation.

The statement reads in full;

Nigeria, like every other country around the world, is dealing with
the unexpected and unprecedented impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The
Muhammadu Buhari administration has taken some steps to mitigate the
effects on the Nigerian people.

To prevent the spread of cases imported into Nigeria, the President
has already ordered the restrictions of travel from 13 countries, each
with more than 1,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19. Government has also
suspended visas issued to nationals of these countries. The restriction
will take effect from March 20 and will remain until further notice.
While Nigeria delights in welcoming the world, the safety and protection
of our citizens and land must take priority.

The various agencies of government including Media owned by the
government have embarked on vigorous campaigns promoting hygiene
measures. There are, currently, very stringent regimes of checks at the
points of air and sea entry into the country. The effort Nigeria is
making as is well known, has already received the commendation of the
World Health Organisation (WHO).

The Presidency wishes to assure Nigerians that government is on top
of the situation. There is no cause for panic. So far measures put in
place are working efficiently. What this country is doing has been
recommended as a template.

The President trusts the relevant Ministers in his cabinet and the
officials of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), who are
providing him with constant updates and professional counsel. These
officials have a track record of competence.

The President instructed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
(NNPC) to reduce the pump price of fuel. The Covid-19 pandemic has led
to a crash in the global price of crude oil, and the President decided
that every Nigerian should benefit from this.

Subsequently, the NNPC announced a 20 naira deduction, and the pump
price of fuel has now been reduced from 145 naira per litre to 125 naira
per litre.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Monday announced a credit relief
of N1.1Trillion Naira to businesses affected by the pandemic. The Bank
has also established a facility for household, small and medium
enterprises (SMEs) and announced a reduction of interest rates for loans
from 9% to 5%.

We do not want to create panic. But we will continue to update the
Nigerian public with relevant information. We plead with every Nigerian
to cooperate with the government in the fight against Covid-19 and obey
all instructions from the NCDC. We have a high level Presidential
Coordination Committee chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation (SGF). This body should be allowed to carry out its duties.

We also plead with Nigerians not to see this most peculiar of times
as one to be politicised or seen as an opportunity to regurgitate
grudges against the government or the ruling All Progressives Congress
(APC). North, South, East, and West – all Nigerians must unite to fight
this plague, irrespective of religious or ideological affiliation.

In this regard, populist advocacies such as the one accusing the
President of “complacency” simply because he has not made a television
address by ranking members of our respected parliament are cheap and
sensational. These are not the times for populism and cheap politics.

President Buhari thanks all those at the forefront of the fight against the deadly disease.

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