Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed has again ruled out any plan to impose a fresh lockdown on the country.
He stated this on Monday as the country battles the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
“On the issue of lockdown, I don’t think there is any time when the Federal Government has said it is going to have a second lockdown,” Mohammed said at a conference in Lagos.
“However, the Federal Government is very unhappy that Nigerians are not adhering to the basic Covid-19 protocols of wearing face masks, or practicising social distancing, of washing hands, of ensuring that they do gather in large numbers.
“If we do not do these, the surge will continue and with the new strain of Covid-19 which is becoming much more difficult to handle than the old strain, the Federal Government will continue to insist and encourage Nigerians to please obey the Covid-19 protocols.
“The Federal Government is aware of the economic and social implications of a second lockdown but we want to call on Nigerians to help us, help themselves and help the economy, by adhering strictly to the Covid-19 protocols.”
Nigeria witnessed national lockdown for five weeks in February and March, coming at a cost in the form of job losses among others.
