FG To Harmonise All Messages On COVID-19 Pandemic To Check Fake News – Lai Mohammed

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Alhaji Lai Mohammed

The Federal Government is making efforts to harmonise all messages sent across the country on the ongoing Novel Coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, made this known on Wednesday in Abuja, at the Presidential Taskforce (PTF), Briefing on COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that this would enable the government track fake news and misinformation to Nigerians.

According to him, media appearances by members of the PTF are taking place to keep Nigerians informed and void of fake news.

Meanwhile, he added that more volunteers were also being deployed to the Nigeria Centre  for Disease Control’s  (NCDC) call centres.

In his remarks, Dr Sani Aliyu, National Coordinator COVID-19 PTF, said that only those on essential duties were exempted from the lockdown.

Aliyu also said that only shops and stalls selling food and groceries shall be allowed to open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

He urged all markets and shop owners to  make provision for hand sanitisers and hand-washing points.

Meanwhile,  Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director-General of NCDC, said that the agency now has an enhanced user-friendly site on the virus.

He gave the site is covid19.ncdc.gov.ng.

“We already have over a million views on the website with 50 per cent coming from Nigeria.

“The virology laboratory of Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi has been activated for COVID19 testing.

“This brings the number of COVID-19 testing laboratories in the country to seven,” he said.

He, however stated that testing laboratories would be opened in Borno, Kano, Sokoto, Rivers, Plateau and Kaduna state.

Ihekweazu, however called on Nigerians to reduce their contact with each other.

“This way, even cases we have not yet found have less chance of transmitting the virus to others,” he added. (NAN)

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