Thread by @magmal11

*STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE: PRESIDENT BUHARI URGES PRECAUTION, NOT FEAR ON CORONAVIRUS CASES*

Nigeria, like every other country around the world, is dealing with the unexpected & unprecedented impact of the #COVID19 pandemic. The @MBuhari admin 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. Govt has also suspended visas issued to nationals of

these countries. The restriction will take effect from March 21 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 @WHO.

The @NGRPresident wishes to assure Nigerians that Govt 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 @NCDCgov, who are providing him with constant updates and professional counsel. These officials have a track record of competence.

The President instructed the @NNPCgroup 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 N145 per litre to N125 naira per litre.

The .@cenbank 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 Govt in the fight

against #Covid19 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 @NigeriaGov or @OfficialAPCNg. 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.

@GarShehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
March 19, 2020.