President Buhari’s 3rd address on the covid-19 pandemic is scheduled for 8:00pm tonight.
The announcement was made by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu on his Twitter handle this afternoon.
According to him:
“President Muhammadu Buhari will address the nation Monday, April 27, 2020 at 8pm.”
“Television, radio and other electronic media stations are enjoined to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) respectively for the broadcast.”
As expected, Nigerians have begun speculating what the President’s broadcast would address. Could it be an extension of the lockdown ? Better palliatives ? Improved medical access ?
Senator Shehu Sani captures the mood of the nation and its expectations in his response to Garba Shehu’s announcement.
Sani proposes that:
“The President’s address should be about; Extension and harmonization of the Lockdown with the states; More Palliatives for the poor; stimulus and bailouts for businesses; Provisions & decentralization for more #COVID19 tests and Special funding for states with higher index.”
It is also expected that President Buhari’s 3rd address would explain the confusion in Kano state and proffer some solution.
Businesses have been reeling under the weight of the lockdown. Many employees fear job losses while some employers have offered as much as 80% pay cuts to employers instead of sacking them.
Whatever the case may be, Nigerians look forward to the broadcast but worry about the availability of power supply to view it. This is in view of he fact that funds have dwindled so much that many cannot afford to fuel their electric power generators.