Ahead of next week’s Sallah festivities, the National Economic Council is urging for strict adherence to COVID-19 response guidelines across the country, after receiving a regular state performance report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

According to the report, the Coronavirus positivity rate has gone up in the country just as 3 cases of the Delta variant have now been detected.

This disclosure was made today at the Council’s 118th meeting, which held virtually and was presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, with State governors, federal ministers, the Central Bank Governor, and other senior government officials in attendance.

The Council was also briefed by the NEC Ad-hoc Committee interfacing with the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 to ease the lockdown of the economy.

Also today, the Council received and discussed the initial report of its Ad-hoc Committee interfacing with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on the complete deregulation of the downstream sub-sector of the industry, and appropriate pricing of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

In the same vein, the Council received updates on the FG Budget Support Facility to States as the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning informed the Council that with the agreement reached on the matter with the CBN providing a bridge financing facility to the States, deductions from State Government will now commence from July.

Regarding panels of inquiries in the States on EndSARS protests, VP Osinbajo noted that a number of States had submitted their reports and more reports are being awaited. He encouraged State governments to turn in the reports while noting that the panels are still sitting in some States.

In addition, the Council received a presentation on Flood Disaster Risk Management in Nigeria for 2021 by Hon. Min. of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management & Social Development and DG of NEMA.