Lockdown fallout: Nigerian Government to revive economy in phases

The Nigerian Government said it has designed a strategy to revive the fallen economy, which was as a result of coronavirus pandemic, necessitating lockdown order, running to four weeks, with the closure of number of businesses

Penpushing reports that, Secretary to the Federal Government, Boss Mustapha dropped the hint while speaking at the daily Presidential Task Force on coronavirus briefing on Wednesday, adding that the reopening of country economy will be done in phases,

The Secretary to the Federal Government also explained that, the reopening process will span a total of six weeks broken into three tranches of two weeks adding that each phased strategy is designed to reduce the pains of socio-economic disruptions.

.”In line with Mr President’s directive in paragraphs 38-41 of his broadcast, the PTF has developed sector-specific guidelines. The gradual reopening of the economy will span a total of six weeks broken into three tranches of two weeks each.

“This phased strategy is designed to reduce the pains of socio-economic disruptions while strengthening our public health response,” he said, adding that the process would “provide succour to the poor and vulnerable.”

Penpushing also reports that, Mustapha who  the Chairman of the Task Force, encouraged state governments to provide leadership in engaging relevant associations responsible for various sectors, and urged security agencies to strictly enforce the new measures that have been put in place by the federal government.

“To underscore the collaborative efforts with Sub-National levels of Government, they are encouraged to provide leadership in engaging relevant associations responsible for various sectors e.g market associations and transport unions for orderly and effective implementation’.

”Similarly, I want to emphasise the need for the security agencies to strictly enforce these new measures that have been put in place,” he said, reiterating that the overnight curfew is applicable nationwide from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily, effective from May 4, 2020.

Penpushing reports that, the country economy has been shut for about four weeks as businesses were closed, airports shut, schools shut and lockdown imposed in many states of the federation, including the commercial capital, Lagos, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.