Appreciates donations to bring COVID-19 under control
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday signed the Covid-19 Regulations 2020 which declared Covid-19 a dangerous infectious disease and legalised the lockdown of activities in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states to enable government contain further spread of the disease.
Spokesman for the president, Mr. Femi Adesina said in a late night statement that Buhari acted in exercise of the powers conferred on him by Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Quarantine Act (CAP Q2 LFN 2004), and “all other powers enabling him in that behalf.”
Recall that the president had on Sunday, March 29 directed a total shut down of the Federal Capital territory, Lagos and Ogun states for an initial period of 14 days from 11pm of Monday, March 30 to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus disease
Adesina, said the regulations, which took effect from yesterday, March 30, 2020, would serve as a legal backing to various measures unveiled by the president during his national broadcast on March 29, 2020.
The statement also said such measures like the restriction/cessation of movement in Lagos, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Ogun State, among other decisions are aimed at containing the spread of the pandemic in the country.
The statement added that in addition to measures aimed at enabling Nigerians to perform on-line transactions and use automatic teller machine (ATMs) during these restrictions, the regulations grant exemption to the financial system and money markets.
The financial system exemption, the statement added, was aimed at allowing very skeletal operations with a view to keeping the system in light operations while these regulations subsists.
“In exercise of the powers conferred on him by Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Quarantine Act (CAP Q2 LFN 2004), and all other powers enabling him in that behalf, President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday, signed the Covid-19 Regulations, 2020, which declared Covid-19 a dangerous infectious disease.
“The Regulations, effective March 30, 2020, also gave legal backing to the various measures outlined in the President’s National Broadcast on March 29, 2020, such as Restriction/Cessation of Movement in Lagos, FCT and Ogun States and others toward containing the spread of the pandemic in the country.
“In addition, to ensure that Nigerians can still perform on-line transactions and use ATMs whilst observing these restrictions, an exemption is granted financial system and money markets to allow very skeletal operations in order to keep the system in light operations during the pendency of these regulations,” said Adesina.
Also yesterday, President Buhari expressed appreciation to donors for their contribution to the containment of the coronavirus disease in the country.
He said in a statement that the situation facing Nigeria and others across the world would certainly need the financial, technical and material support of companies and individuals as well as collective effort of all Nigerians to bring the coronavirus pandemic under control.
He urged all intending donors to channel contributions through the Presidential Task Force for the Control of the Novel Coronavirus.
He assured that the funds donated would be properly utilized to check the effect of the COVID-19 and reposition the health care system.
He appreciated the kind gesture of captain of industries, corporate entities, missionaries, musical artistes and individuals who had consistently supported ongoing efforts to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic which, according to him, is ravaging the global economy.
He also thanked a group of oil companies, who partnered with the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation to donate $30m. He particularly appreciated the contributions from the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Dr Mike Adenuga, Modupeola and Folorunsho Alakija of Famfa Oil, and Dr Emeka Offor who joined a list of other public-spirited Nigerians in contributing health and educational facilities.
Buhari further welcomed generous donations as announced by Zenith Bank PLC, Keystone Bank, First Bank Plc and Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr Paul Enenche, and his wife, Becky, who also took to the streets to sensitize citizens on the dreaded virus.
Besides, he appreciated the efforts of Stallion Empowerment Initiative of the Stallion Group, and the entertainment industry, particularly renowned musician, Innocent ‘Tuface’ Idibia, for their donations.
