Religious Leaders Sabotaging COVID-19 Efforts – PTF

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has blamed religious leaders for undermining the country’s response in containing the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak by continuing to hold large gatherings.

Eko Hot Blog had reported that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) faulted the warning by the Presidential Task Force on COVID–19 against Christmas Carols to check the spike in the number of Coronavirus cases.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, said this during a press briefing in Abuja.

“We have observed, rather sadly, that Nigerians, particularly some faith-based organisations have continued to hold events of large gatherings capable of spreading the virus.

“The PTF urges all sub-national entities that signed the protocols with these organisations and have primary responsibility for enforcing the protocols and NPIs to step up their roles of enforcement,” he said.

Read also: COVID-19: PTF Working With Partners To Implement Comprehensive Response To Virus

The PTF Chairman said even as vaccines are rolled out, people still need to keep complying with public health measures so that everyone is protected.

“The pandemic still has a long a way to run and decisions made by leaders and citizens in the coming days will determine the course of the next days and months; and in addition, and in line with the guidance on the use of masks, we need to discourage the practice of removing masks to speak.”

Mustapha however added that the Taskforce will submit its final report to the President in the next two weeks, noting that the submission does not signal the end of the assignment as the virus has not gone away yet.