President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the extension of the ongoing lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Lagos and Ogun states by one week to further curtail the spread of Coronavirus in the country.
The President disclosed the approval during his third nation-wide broadcast on COVID-19
The President, however, disclosed that the lockdown in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun States shall remain in place until new directive came into effect on Monday, May 4, 2020.
“Based on the above and in line with the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the various Federal Government committees that have reviewed socio-economic matters and the Nigeria Governors Forum, I have approved a phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures in FCT, Lagos and Ogun States effective from Monday, 4th May, 2020,” Mr Buhari disclosed.
The President, however, said that the measure would be followed strictly with aggressive reinforcement of testing and contact tracing measures, “while allowing the restoration of some economic and business activities in certain sectors”.
According to him, new nationwide measures are to be introduced as follows;
a. There will be an overnight curfew from 8pm to 6am. This means all movements will be prohibited during this period except for essential services;
b. There will be a ban on non-essential inter-state passenger travel until further notice;
c. Partial and controlled interstate movement of goods and services will be allowed for the movement of goods and services from producers to consumers; and
d. We will strictly ensure the mandatory use of face masks or coverings in public in addition to maintaining physical distancing and personal hygiene. Furthermore, the restrictions on social and religious gatherings shall remain in place. State Governments, corporate organisations and philanthropists are encouraged to support the production of cloth masks for citizens.
Recall that on April 13, Buhari announced a 14-day extension of lockdown in Lagos, Abuja and Ogun states to combat the pandemic.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, on Sunday had confirmed 91 new cases, bringing the total number of infections in Nigeria to 1,273. Currently, 35 people have died, 925 people are still sick and 222 people have recovered from the coronavirus in Nigeria.
