•Imposes nationwide curfew
•Bans non-essential inter-state travels, social and religious
gatherings
•Makes use of face masks compulsory
•Says governors can adopt measures to suit states
• COVID-19 cases climb to 1,337 with 255 discharged, 40 deaths
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday made a choice between the
devil and the deep blue sea, relaxing from Monday the lockdown of
the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and Ogun States even as
he shut for two weeks, the emerging epicentre of COVID-19 pandemic,
Kano State.
Acknowledging the escalation of the spread of the virus despite
the lockdown he imposed on the two worst-hit states and the FCT
since March 30, the president, in a nationwide broadcast, said no
nation could afford to close its economy for longer than necessary
hence the need to ease the restriction.
He, therefore, directed the easing of the restriction of
movement effective from Monday apparently to give room for the
implementation of his fresh measures for the unlocking of the
economy of the two states and the federal capital territory.
But Kano that had been home to strange deaths in the last few
days came under the president’s total restriction order for two
weeks in the first instance.
Buhari last night gave legal backing to his fresh directives aimed
at curbing the spread of the deadly virus by signing the
Proclamation Order on the General Management of COVID-19 in Lagos,
Ogun, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
A statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and
Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the proclamation order would also
be in force in other states in Nigeria as contained in the
president’s national broadcast.
The statement added that the order was in the exercise of the
powers conferred on the president “by Section 3 of the Quarantine
Act, CAP Q2 Laws of the Federation 2004 and all powers enabling him
in that behalf.”
The president’s extension of the restriction by a week in the
FCT, Lagos and Ogun States, and the lockdown of Kano State received
justification from last night’s update by Nigeria Centre for
Disease Control (NCDC) which showed that the virus had increased
its spread by 64 moving the tally since February 27 to 1,337 with
255 persons discharged and 40 dead.
Happily, no new state has recorded an index case, leaving the
virus’ territory at 32 states. The 64 new cases were reported from
five states, including Lagos 34, FCT 15, Borno 11, Taraba two, and
Gombe two.
Specifically, the president imposed a nationwide curfew, lasting
from 8 pm to 6 am and banned non-essential inter-state travels,
social and religious gatherings form Monday.
He said the FCT, Lagos and Ogun States would henceforth witness
a phased lockdown subject to the implementation of certain
measures, partial and controlled interstate movement of goods and
services; and mandatory use of face masks or coverings in
public.
He said: “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 highlighted further measures: “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;
“There will be a ban on non-essential inter-state passenger travel
until further notice;
“Partial and controlled interstate movement of goods and services
will be allowed for the movement of goods and services from
producers to consumers; and
“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.”
According to him, the lockdown in the FCT, Lagos, and Ogun
States will remain in force until the new measures introduced to
ease it take effect.
“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,” he said.
Buhari excluded Kano State from these revised guidelines.
“With regards to Kano, I have directed the enforcement of a total
lockdown for a period of two weeks effective immediately. The
federal government shall deploy all the necessary human, material
and technical resources to support the state in controlling and
containing the pandemic and preventing the risk of further spread
to neighbouring states,” he stated.
The president commended health workers whom he said had been at
the forefront of the battle against the virus, noting that some of
them who had been infected would be duly supported by the
government.
The president said the lockdown in the last month had had adverse
effects on the economy with many businesses shut down.
According to him, no country could sustain the trend while awaiting
vaccines for the treatment of the disease.
He explained that both the federal and state governments have
been collaborating on how to handle the situation.
He said various reviews had been carried out in recent weeks,
including how children would learn during the pandemic and how
businesses would continue to run and livelihoods preserved.
Against this background, he said the goals of the governments
were to come up with policies that would aid the functioning of the
economy while the fight against the pandemic remained in force.
The president acknowledged the support of traditional rulers, the
Christian Association of Nigeria, the Nigerian Supreme Council for
Islamic Affairs and other prominent religious and community
leaders, saying their cooperation and support have contributed to
the successes recorded so far.
The president, who also thanked the NGF and the PTF for what he
described as their hard work, also saluted corporate organisations,
philanthropists, the United Nations (UN) system, the European Union
(EU), friendly nations, the media, and other partners for “taking
up the responsibility for supporting our response.”
The president thanked and commended Nigerians for their
cooperation, sense of resilience and patriotism, which he said they
had shown in the country’s collective war “against the biggest
health challenge of our generation.”
•Imposes nationwide curfew
•Bans non-essential inter-state travels, social and religious
gatherings
•Makes use of face masks compulsory
•Says governors can adopt measures to suit states
• COVID-19 cases climb to 1,337 with 255 discharged, 40 deaths
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday made a choice between the
devil and the deep blue sea, relaxing from Monday the lockdown of
the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and Ogun States even as
he shut for two weeks, the emerging epicentre of COVID-19 pandemic,
Kano State.
Acknowledging the escalation of the spread of the virus despite
the lockdown he imposed on the two worst-hit states and the FCT
since March 30, the president, in a nationwide broadcast, said no
nation could afford to close its economy for longer than necessary
hence the need to ease the restriction.
He, therefore, directed the easing of the restriction of
movement effective from Monday apparently to give room for the
implementation of his fresh measures for the unlocking of the
economy of the two states and the federal capital territory.
But Kano that had been home to strange deaths in the last few
days came under the president’s total restriction order for two
weeks in the first instance.
Buhari last night gave legal backing to his fresh directives aimed
at curbing the spread of the deadly virus by signing the
Proclamation Order on the General Management of COVID-19 in Lagos,
Ogun, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
A statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and
Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the proclamation order would also
be in force in other states in Nigeria as contained in the
president’s national broadcast.
The statement added that the order was in the exercise of the
powers conferred on the president “by Section 3 of the Quarantine
Act, CAP Q2 Laws of the Federation 2004 and all powers enabling him
in that behalf.”
The president’s extension of the restriction by a week in the
FCT, Lagos and Ogun States, and the lockdown of Kano State received
justification from last night’s update by Nigeria Centre for
Disease Control (NCDC) which showed that the virus had increased
its spread by 64 moving the tally since February 27 to 1,337 with
255 persons discharged and 40 dead.
Happily, no new state has recorded an index case, leaving the
virus’ territory at 32 states. The 64 new cases were reported from
five states, including Lagos 34, FCT 15, Borno 11, Taraba two, and
Gombe two.
Specifically, the president imposed a nationwide curfew, lasting
from 8 pm to 6 am and banned non-essential inter-state travels,
social and religious gatherings form Monday.
He said the FCT, Lagos and Ogun States would henceforth witness
a phased lockdown subject to the implementation of certain
measures, partial and controlled interstate movement of goods and
services; and mandatory use of face masks or coverings in
public.
He said: “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 highlighted further measures: “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;
“There will be a ban on non-essential inter-state passenger travel
until further notice;
“Partial and controlled interstate movement of goods and services
will be allowed for the movement of goods and services from
producers to consumers; and
“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.”
According to him, the lockdown in the FCT, Lagos, and Ogun
States will remain in force until the new measures introduced to
ease it take effect.
“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,” he said.
Buhari excluded Kano State from these revised guidelines.
“With regards to Kano, I have directed the enforcement of a total
lockdown for a period of two weeks effective immediately. The
federal government shall deploy all the necessary human, material
and technical resources to support the state in controlling and
containing the pandemic and preventing the risk of further spread
to neighbouring states,” he stated.
The president commended health workers whom he said had been at
the forefront of the battle against the virus, noting that some of
them who had been infected would be duly supported by the
government.
The president said the lockdown in the last month had had adverse
effects on the economy with many businesses shut down.
According to him, no country could sustain the trend while awaiting
vaccines for the treatment of the disease.
He explained that both the federal and state governments have
been collaborating on how to handle the situation.
He said various reviews had been carried out in recent weeks,
including how children would learn during the pandemic and how
businesses would continue to run and livelihoods preserved.
Against this background, he said the goals of the governments
were to come up with policies that would aid the functioning of the
economy while the fight against the pandemic remained in force.
The president acknowledged the support of traditional rulers, the
Christian Association of Nigeria, the Nigerian Supreme Council for
Islamic Affairs and other prominent religious and community
leaders, saying their cooperation and support have contributed to
the successes recorded so far.
The president, who also thanked the NGF and the PTF for what he
described as their hard work, also saluted corporate organisations,
philanthropists, the United Nations (UN) system, the European Union
(EU), friendly nations, the media, and other partners for “taking
up the responsibility for supporting our response.”
The president thanked and commended Nigerians for their
cooperation, sense of resilience and patriotism, which he said they
had shown in the country’s collective war “against the biggest
health challenge of our generation.”