The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has assured Nigerians that the Federal Government would ensure that food production and distribution won’t be affected in the fight against coronavirus.
He said this in a press statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Thursday.
Other things that Buhari said would not be allowed to suffer are production and distribution of food, medications and medical equipment.
The retired general commended Nigerians for their “unity of purpose in fighting spread of COVID-19 in the country, particularly the willingness for self-isolation, social distancing, and contributions of public-spirited individuals and institutions.”
The statement added, “While calling for more compliance with regulations and restrictions on movement and gatherings for the safety of all citizens, President Buhari further reassures that government directives will not affect production and distribution of food, medications, medical equipment and other essentials as the nation wades through the global health challenge, which already portends dire economic strains.
“The President directs all relevant agencies and regulators to provide an enabling environment for industries to sustain their operations by ensuring reasonable access to industrial supplies and inputs like water, fuel, gas and essential infrastructure and relaxing of stringent laws, commending the Central Bank of Nigeria and commercial banks for the interventions to make forex and credit more accessible to those on the manufacturing line.
“In giving assurances of firm support for the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria by proactively addressing the potential impact of the pandemic on the Nigerian economy, the President requests that all necessary measures be put in place to protect and promote the health and safety of industrial workers.”
