COVID-19: Presidency Makes U-turn, Says Buhari Will No Longer Address Nigerians Tonight Monday

Presidency has made U-turn, saying that President Muhammadu Buhari would not address the nation on the COVID-19 pandemic as scheduled tonight.

KanyiDaily recalls that the National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Aliyu Sani, had on Sunday during an interview on Channels TV, disclosed that Buhari will be addressing Nigerians on Monday evening.

According to him, the president’s address will majorly focus on whether or not the country should go ahead with the second phase of easing the lockdown.

However, in a tweet on Monday afternoon, a presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina said no presidential address on COVID-19 updates was planned for today (Monday).

ALSO READ: “We May Go Back Into Lockdown If Coronavirus Cases Explode” – Federal Government Warns Nigerians

Adesina said the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 would rather, during its usual media briefings, bring the nation up to speed on the next steps.

“No presidential broadcast on COVID-19 updates today. None was planned. Rather, the Presidential Task Force will during its usual media briefings bring the nation up to speed on the next steps,” he wrote.

No presidential broadcast on COVID-19 updates today. None was planned. Rather, the Presidential Task Force will during its usual media briefings bring the nation up to speed on the next steps.

— Femi Adesina (@FemAdesina) May 18, 2020

Bashir Ahmed, Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari, also confirmed the development On his Twitter handle. He wrote:

“The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, @FemAdesina discloses that no presidential broadcast on COVID-19 updates today. The Presidential Task Force led by SGF, Boss Mustapha will during its daily media briefings bring the nation up to speed on the next steps.”

The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, @FemAdesina discloses that no presidential broadcast on COVID-19 updates today. The Presidential Task Force led by SGF, Boss Mustapha will during its daily media briefings bring the nation up to speed on the next steps.

— Bashir Ahmad, OON (@BashirAhmaad) May 18, 2020

On Sunday night, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced 338 new positive cases of coronavirus, increasing the tally to 5,959 in the country. A total of 1,472 have been discharged, while the number of deaths rose to 176.