We need your patience to overcome COVID-19, SGF tells Nigerians

The Federal Government has called on Nigerians to exercise patience with it while efforts are being put in place to combat the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

Nigeria has witnessed increase rate in the number of those infected with the virus with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirming 35 new cases on Thursday night bringing the country’s total to 442 cases.

The development comes against the backdrop of several directives introduced by both the federal and state governments including lockdown as well as prohibition of large social and religious gatherings to prevent spread of the virus.

Speaking during the Presidential Task Force (PTF) briefing in Abuja on Friday, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, said Nigerians need to exercise patience with the government in the fight against the dangerous enemy.

His words: “This is a long-term effort and we should exercise patience as we gradually walk out of danger, reopen our society and her economic life. This virus has no vaccine.

“Success will mean a return to normalcy and we can only claim victory when cases are no longer increasing, we have no unknown sources for cases, deaths are no longer increasing, more admissions are discharged. The only path to these is your full collaboration and compliance.

“As we have always told you, this is a war with a vicious enemy and our goal is to ultimately flatten the curve.

“To achieve this, the PTF crave the full understanding of Nigerians. We therefore continue to appeal to all our citizens to obey the orders to stay home, respect the advisories on personal hygiene, social distancing and reporting symptoms to the nearest appropriate medical facility, stay at home and go into isolation for the sake of your loved ones and the society.

“The presidential task force has been receiving feedbacks from the public on the challenges and efforts are being made to intensify and make sure that the palliatives approved by government reach you with ease.

“This delivery is being done in collaboration with state authorities. Similarly, arrangements to finalise modalities for the expansion of the palliatives is in top gear.”