President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday commended members of the presidential task force (PTF) committee on COVID19 as well as other imminent Nigerians and development partners for their great support and financial contributions towards mitigating the impact of the pandemic on Nigerians.The president gave this commendation at State House, Presidential Villa Abuja while receiving the the End of the year report from members of the PTF.
According to him, the successes recorded by the PTF in managing the control of the pandemic since March 2020 are largely attributable to the multi-sectoral approach adopted by the government, the proactive steps taken and the commitment of its members. “I wish to acknowledge the immeasurable support received from the National Assembly, state governments, the private sector coalition, the international community, development partners, well-meaning Nigerians who donated in cash and kind and also made sacrifices, the media organisations, security agencies and the frontline workers who toiled day and night as our last line of defence. The list is endless. Our gratitude is endless
” On behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria, I thank you one and all for your support and contributions to this National Response to a global emergency.
He further lamented that the impact of the COVID-19 on global and national economies cannot even now be fully assessed adding no nation of the world has been spared from the experience of different degrees of economic downturn as several countries including Nigeria went into negative growth territories.
“The year 2020 has been most challenging for the whole of humanity as a result of the havoc wreaked by the COVID-19 on lives, livelihoods, global and national economies, governance structures, health, social welfare and other systems.” It has consumed an inordinate amount of resources deployed to address it by countries of the world, without abating.”The COVID 19 pandemic has also taken and keeps taking, precious lives of our loved ones, leaving several homes, families and associates to mourn. May the Almighty God grant all those that have lost their lives to this deadly virus eternal rest.
“To mitigate this impact, we developed an Economic Sustainability Plan aimed at cushioning the impact at all levels and stabilizing our economy. Family businesses, small, and medium scale enterprises and the manufacturing sector were all supported through various windows. Appropriate support has also been provided through the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Program, as well as the Trader and Market Moni loans. For the very vulnerable, significant steps taken include: Expansion of the National Social Register to 3.6 million beneficiaries across thirty six States,; Support provided to 8, 827,129 households through the 70,000MT food grains released from the Strategic Reserve; and Support to 1,289,405 vulnerable households that benefitted from the Conditional Cash Transfers across 34 States.He however assured on speedy access and administering of the COVID vaccine in a safe, effective and timely manner.
“This is an important obligation that we owe Nigerians as we go into year 2021 and it must be carried out through an efficient macdevelopment the festive season approaches, I urge all Nigerians to remain vigilant and stay safe. Non-essential trips and large social gatherings should be avoided or shelved completely.