Nigeria to maintain COVID-19 protocols – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari said on Thursday Nigeria would continue to maintain its COVID-19 guidelines and protocols to protect the citizens and stop the spread of the virus.

The President stated this when he presented the 2022 Appropriation Bill of N16.39 trillion to the joint session of the National Assembly.

He also gave a summary of his administration’s achievements and its plans for the next fiscal year.

Buhari said: “The grim realities of COVID-19 and its lethal variants are still upon us. From President to pauper, the virus does not discriminate.

“This is why our country still maintains its COVID -19 guidelines and protocols in place to protect citizens and stop the spread of this disease.

READ ALSO: COVID 19: Group urges NCDC to be more open with data on testing

“Over the past few days, we have consulted with the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 and the leadership of the National Assembly on how best to present the 2022 budget proposal keeping in mind the deep-rooted traditions in place and the guidelines for safe mass gatherings.

“We ultimately decided that the most responsible and respectful approach was to hold a shorter than usual gathering while allowing the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning to provide fuller details of our proposals at a smaller event.”

The President said the Federal Government had so far constructed 52 molecular laboratories, 520-bed intensive care units, 52 isolation centres, and other medical facilities to check the menace of the pandemic.

He added: “The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the urgent need to strengthen our health system. Towards this end, we also provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) across 52 Federal Medical Centres and Teaching Hospitals.”

He said the recent passage of the Petroleum Industry and subsequent incorporation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had resulted in the rationalisation of expenditure as well as increased investments in the oil and gas industry.

“We continue to push our expenditure rationalisation initiatives which we started in 2016.

“For example, on personnel costs, the number of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) increased from 459 in 2017 to 711 to date,’’ The President concluded.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now