Nigerians have reacted negatively to the Federal Government’s reintroduction of COVID-19 restrictions across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), saying it is mere panic measures that may have undesired effects.
This comes after the Head of Technical Secretariat of the PSC, Dr Mukthar Mohammed made the announcement while briefing reporters on Monday in Abuja. This new directive is to take effect by midnight of Tuesday.
With the restrictions imposed, mass gatherings in public spaces have been restricted to 50 people at any given time.
Access to government institutions would also be denied to anyone not wearing a face mask while government meetings and travels have been limited to the virtual platform.
The government further directed that bars and nightclubs should remain closed and the nationwide curfew will be in force until further notice.
He added that only essential international travels would be encouraged, and all existing protocols must be strictly adhered to.
The PSC member, however, stated that there was no limitation to intra-state travel.
However, Nigerians are complaining across the social media saying that the country’s infection rate is quite minimal and has reduced significantly to warrant a reintroduction of restrictions when countries with over 100% the infection rates of Nigeria are opening up. They claim the government is reacting to news that Britain may put Nigeria on the “Amber” list following the crisis in India, in view of Nigeria’s very cordial relationship with India and the large number of the Indian community in Nigeria. It could be recalled that the Federal Government last week placed a passenger ban on three countries namely, India, Turkey and Brazil due to the spike in infectious and fatality rates in those countries.
Whether these new restrictions will achieve the desired results is yet to be ascertained as many have grown weary of restrictions.