FG To Consider Lifting Of Ban On Interstate Travel

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, on Monday, said it has started reviewing the guidelines for lifting of the ban on interstate travels.
Sani Aliyu, National Coordinator of the task force, speaking at the daily press briefing in Abuja, said the roads will be opened when all the bus terminuses in the country have COVID-19 preventive measures in place.
He stated that according to the PTF Chairman, Boss Mustapha, the federal government will decide on its lock down policies next week, including the ban on interstate movements.
The PTF coordinator said the guidelines submitted by Gbemisola Saraki, minister of state for transportation, is being reviewed, and the roads will be opened as soon as it is safe to do so.
He said: “At the moment, we still have restrictions on interstate travel. But we have been linking up with the Federal Ministry of Transportation through the Minister of State for Transportation.
“They have given us guidelines that they have developed : very detailed guidelines, and we have looked at them, summarised them and discussed at PTF last week.
“We have asked the Minister of State for Transportation to please engage with the road transport workers to make sure that the usual garages and parks that we have are ready in terms of guidelines that we have in place such as physical distancing, reducing the number of passengers per vehicle and provision of hand washing facilities etc.
“And I believe they are already working on this and hopefully, we should be able to open as soon as it is safe to do so.”
Aliyu expressed worry over the lack of compliance with safety protocols, and urged states across the country to increase the rate of their COVID-19 testing.
The PTF national coordinator also advised states to put in place laws that will make wearing of face mask compulsory in public places.