To curb the spread of the coronavirus across the country, President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered a total lockdown of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and Ogun states.
The lockdown is expected to take effect from 11pm on Monday, 30th March. The President gave the order in a national broadcast on Sunday.
The broadcast came after weeks of pressure from some Nigerians wondering why the President has refused to address the country, in contradiction to what other leaders across the world have been doing since the outbreak.
President Buhari in the national broadcast said, “I am directing the cessation of all movement in Lagos and FCT for an initial period of 14 days with effect from 11pm on Monday, 30th March, 2020. This restriction will also apply to Ogun State due to its close proximity to Lagos and the high traffic between the two states.
“All businesses and offices within these locations should be fully closed during this period.”
He however said that health related organisations, manufacturing, distribution and retailing companies would not be affected by the movement restrictions.
He said the containment period would be used to identify, trace and isolate all those who have had contact with confirmed cases while further spread would be restricted.
While noting the effect the movement restrictions would have on affected Nigerians, he assured that palliatives would be rolled out to cushion the effects.
“For residents of satellite towns and communal towns and communities around Lagos and Abuja, whose livelihood would surely be affected by some of these restrictive measures, we shall deploy relief materials to ease their pains in the coming weeks,” he said.
He said the country’s response to the outbreak must be guided, systematic and professional. He said all inconsistencies across the states in response to the outbreak would be eliminated.
Buhari also directed that all federal government stadia, pilgrim camps and related facilities should be converted to isolation centres and makeshift hospitals.
He said the government is committed to do what it takes to confront the pandemic in the country.
As at Sunday evening Nigeria has confirmed 111 cases with Lagos and Abuja having the highest number of the cases of 68 and 21 respectively.
