The federal government has equally appealed to banks in the country to continue to give skeletal services to Nigerians as the lockdown continues to curb the spread of COVID-19.
National coordinator of the Presidential Task Force (PTF), Dr Sani Aliyu, made the appeal yesterday during the daily media briefing by the task force in Abuja.
He also appealed to Muslims across the country to continue to honour all the preventive measures issued against COVID-19 as the Ramadan fasting commences.
Aliyu explained that the reason for the extension of the lockdown announced by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday was to help Nigeria interrupt the further spread of the virus in the country.
On the closure of banks, he recalled that there was an exemption for banks to provide skeletal services, even as he appealed to the banks in the country to start addressing this concern.
He said, “When we implemented the cessation of movement policy two weeks ago, we did make an exemption for banks to be allowed to engage in skeletal services and following that, the financial authorities released additional guidelines to the banks.
“We are appealing to the banks please continue to provide financial services, especially the availability of cash at the ATM and skeletal services within the banking halls.
“What is important for us is for banks to comply with our advice in terms of reducing mass gatherings, having hands disinfectants at the entrance point, monitoring of temperature and making sure that they observe the physical distancing measures that we have advised”.
