Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, has partially relaxed the COVID-19 lockdown in the federal capital territory, Lagos and Ogun States, from Monday 4th May 2020.
The president who disclosed this in his broadcast to the nation on Monday, however, banned social gatherings.
“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.
“Furthermore, new nationwide measures are to be introduced as follows:
a. There will be an overnight curfew from 8 pm to 6 am. 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.
“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.
President Buhari had ordered the restriction of movements in the affected states which are the hardest hit by the coronavirus in the country, for four weeks. The four weeks elapses today, Monday, April 27, 2020.
Nigeria’s tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to 1273 on Sunday from 1182 reported on Saturday evening by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
NCDC in a tweet Sunday night said that 91 new cases were reported in 16 states. These are Lagos, Sokoto, Taraba, Kaduna, Gombe, Ondo, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Edo, Oyo, Rivers, Bauchi, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, and Kebbi.
A breakdown of the latest update shows that 43 of the new cases were reported in Lagos, eight in Sokoto, Taraba – six, Kaduna and Gombe – five, Ondo, FCT, Edo, Rivers Bauchi, and Oyo – three, Osun – two, while Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, and Kebbi have one case apiece.
Lagos remains the epicenter for the outbreak in Nigeria, Three states – Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Taraba, and Kebbi – reported their first cases of the infection on Sunday.
Summary of President Buhari’s CONFUSING Presidential Broadcast.
1. From Monday, the 4th of May, 2020, Lagos, Ogun, and Abuja will resume work from 9 am to 6m.
2. There will be no movement of persons and vehicles from 8 pm to 6 am every day from Saturday, 4th of May, 2020.
3. The use of face masks, social distancing, and hand washing is mandatory across the States.
4. There will be no inter-state movement of non-essential goods.
5. Restriction on social and religious gatherings is still in place. i. e. Churches and mosques are still not allowed to open.
6. State Governors have the right to amend all the conditions.
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