Lagos, Ogun, FCT stay locked-down until May 4 – Buhari

 

BY OUR EDITOR

President Muhammadu Buhari has extended the lockdown of Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, by one week.

The two states and the FCT have been under Federal Government imposed lockdown for the past four weeks.

In a nationwide address on Monday in Abuja, President Buhari said the Lagos, Ogun and the FCT considered frontline areas in Nigeria’s fight against the coronavirus disease will remain locked-down until Monday, May 4, when a phased easing of the restriction in movement will begin.

He said: “Fellow Nigerians, for the past four weeks, most parts of our country have been under either Federal Government or State Government lockdown. As I mentioned earlier, these steps were necessary and overall, have contributed to slowing down the spread of COVID-19 in our country.

“However, such lockdowns have also come at a very heavy economic cost. Many of our citizens have lost their means of livelihood. Many businesses have shut down. No country can afford the full impact of a sustained lockdown while awaiting the development of vaccines.

“In my last address, I mentioned that Federal Government will develop strategies and policies that will protect lives while preserving livelihoods.

“In these two weeks, the Federal and State Governments have jointly and collaboratively worked hard on how to balance the need to protect health while also preserving livelihoods, leveraging global best practices while keeping in mind our peculiar circumstances.

“We assessed how our factories, markets, traders and transporters can continue to function while at the same time adhering to NCDC guidelines on hygiene and social distancing.

“We assessed how our children can continue to learn without compromising their health.

“We reviewed how our farmers can safely plant and harvest in this rainy season to ensure our food security is not compromised. Furthermore, we also discussed how to safely transport food items from rural production areas to industrial processing zones and ultimately, to the key consumption centres.”

READ: Buhari extends Lagos, Ogun, Abuja lockdown by 14 days

According to President Buhari, government’s goal was to develop implementable policies that would ensure the country’s economy continued to function while still maintaining the aggressive response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a decision he described as difficult and were being faced by leaders around the world.

“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.

“However, this will 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,” he declared.

The president announced the introduction of new nationwide measures to contain and rid the country of the virus. They include, overnight curfew – cessation of movement, except for essential services – from 8pm to 6am; ban on non-essential inter-state passenger travel until further notice and Partial and controlled interstate movement of goods and services from producers to consumers.

There will also be the mandatory use of face masks or coverings in public, maintenance of physical distancing and personal hygiene, in addition to continued restrictions on social and religious gatherings.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the lockdown in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun States shall remain in place until these new ones come into effect on Monday, 4th May 2020.

“The Presidential Task Force shall provide sector specific details to allow for preparations by governments, businesses and institutions.

“In respect to the above guidelines, state governors may choose to adapt and expand based on their unique circumstances provided they maintain alignment with the guidelines issued above.

“To support our businesses and traders, the monetary and fiscal authorities shall deploy all the necessary provisions needed for production to continue and thus, jobs restored,” the president directed.

He said that these revised guidelines will not apply to Kano State which has been placed under immediate lockdown for the next two weeks.