SGF heads presidential task force on COVID-19 control

President Muhammadu Buhari has set up a presidential task force for the Control of the Coronavirus-19 Disease (COVID-19) in the country.

He took the action given the current global outbreak of the novel coronavirus and its potential of causing significant disruption to health services in the country as well as impacting negatively on the economy.

ALSO READ: FG will enforce 70% local content in radio, TV production ― Minister

A statement issued in Abuja on Monday by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity) explained that the action “is in preparation for the unlikely but probable major outbreak of the disease in the country which will require a multi-sectoral inter-governmental approach as advised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) similar to that adopted for the HIV epidemic in the last two decades”.

It said the start and finish task group, which would be expected to deliver within a maximum period of six months, comprises the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha as Chairman; Dr Sani Aliyu, National Coordinator, Minister of Health; Minister of Interior; Hon. Minister of Aviation; and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Services.

Others are Minister of Education, Minister of Information and Culture, Minister of Environment; Director-General, State Services; Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the WHO Country Representative.