The Federal Government has lifted the ban on interstate travel. The ban was imposed as part of efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 across the country.

The announcement was made today, Monday, by the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha during the daily press briefing of the task force.

Mustapha told the nation that President Muhammadu Buhari decided to approve the move after the PTF submitted its 5th Interim Report to him on Monday.

The President’s approval also reportedly included, barring some some modifications, the extension of Phase Two of the eased lockdown by another four weeks starting from Tuesday, June 30, 2020 to Midnight of Monday, 27 July, 2020.

According to Boss Mustapha movement would resume across State borders only outside curfew hours with effect from July, 1 2020.

The Secretary to the Government also informed the nation that there would be what he termed a “safe reopening” of schools to enable final year students resume in-person in preparation for examinations. Domestic flight operations, according to Mustapha, would only resume “as soon as practicable.”

In his words, “Specifically, however, the following measures shall either remain in place or come into effect:

• Maintaining the current phase of the national response, for another four weeks in line with modifications to be expatiated by the National Coordinator;
• Permission of movement across State borders only outside curfew hours with effect from 1st July, 2020;
  *Enforcement of laws around non-pharmaceutical interventions by States, in particular, the use of face masks in public places;
  *Safe re-opening of schools to allow students in graduating classes resume in-person in preparation for examinations;
• Safe reopening of domestic aviation services as soon as practicable.”

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