COVID-19: Security agents facing challenges in enforcing lockdown order in states, says presidential task force

The Presidential Task Force on coronavirus has alerted that there are challenges bedevilling security agents’ enforcement of the lockdown order to curtail the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

It was however happy to report that there had been substantial compliance with the order issued by President Muhammadu Buhari, noting however that dialogue was on to remove the bottlenecks in its implementation particularly in states which have made their own rules.

Speaking at its daily briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, chairman of the task force and Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, who revealed these, announced that the protocols for the lockdown implementation had been developed.

He said: “You will recall that the president in his broadcast announced a number of restrictions particularly in Lagos, Ogun and Abuja. You will also recall that the PTF met with security chiefs to review the status of implementation as it affects compliance and enforcement.

“We have received situation reports from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on inter-state traffic across the country as of Tuesday, 31st March, 2020. Indications are that there was a reasonable level of compliance with the presidential directive which has led to great reduction of traffic on major highways.

“We have however received reports of challenges arising from the enforcement of the presidential directives by security agents generally and in states where governors have also imposed their own measures.

“As we continue to dialogue to remove the bottlenecks, I am pleased to inform you that the PTF has developed an implementation guide and protocols for the COVID-19 lockdown policy.

“This document will be widely circulated to all security agencies and will be discussed with sub-national entities for the purpose of building synergy in the fight against the virus.”