6thCOVID-19 TELECONFERENCE MEETING OF THE NIGERIA GOVERNORS’ FORUM HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 22ndAPRIL 2020

We, members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), at our meeting held today deliberated on the COVID-19 pandemic in the country and resolved as follows:

1. The Forumheld a minute’s silence in honour ofall Nigerians who have lost their lives from coronavirus, especially health workers who were in the front lines of the epidemic.
2. Members also conveyed their condolence to Mr President and the people of Borno State on the passing of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari who passed away on 17^th April 2020 in the line of duty to the country.
3. The NGF Chairman briefed the Forum on the rapidly evolving situation of the COVID-19 pandemic and coordinationefforts with the federal government, multilateral and bilateral partners, and the private sector through the Coalition against COVID-19 (CACOVID). With over 25 States now affected by the spreadof the virus and increasing evidence of community transmission, State Governors called for the decentralization of the COVID-19 response as the best chance of nipping the spread of the virus in communities.
4. Following an update from the NGF Secretariat onthe number of COVID-19 cases in the country, members expressed serious concernover the rising spread of the virus amonghealth workers and resolved to work with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to ensure that health workers are adequately provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) and are constantly trained on the use of protective gears.
5. In order to strengthencoordinatedimplementation of necessary public health recommendations across States, Governors resolved to setup COVID-19 Committees at the regional level, headed by their State Commissioners of Health. Regional Committees will continue to interface with the State Task Force Committees on COVID-19 already established in each State.
6. The Forum also receivedbriefingfrom the Governors of Lagos, Bauchi, Oyo and Ogun State who shared their experiences and lessons from the fight against COVID-19.
7. Governors unanimously agreed to the implementation of an inter-State lockdown in the country over the next two weeks to mitigate the spread of the virus from State to State. Only essential services will be permitted.
8. Lastly, the Forum congratulated the Governor of Kaduna State, H.E. Nasir El-Rufai who after nearly four weeks of testing positive and observing very strict medical regime has now received two consecutive negative test results for the coronavirus.

Governor Kayode Fayemi

Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum

22^ndApril2020