COVID-19: Buhari orders nationwide curfew in Nigeria, total lockdown in Kano, one week extension in Abuja, Lagos, Ogun

Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered a nationwide curfew and a total lockdown of Kano State, just as he added another one week to the ongoing lockdown in Lagos, Abuja and Ogun State.

The president in a national broadcast Monday night, however said the lockdown would be relaxed from next week Monday, May 4, until new measures become effective.

Part of the new measures to contains the spread of coronavirus pandemic, which President Buhari said would be introduced is the nationwide night curfews from 8: p.m. to 6 a.m.

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With regards to Kano, the most populated state in the country located at its northern region, where the coronavirus deaths escalated in past days, President Buhari had directed the immediate enforcement of a total lockdown for a period of two weeks.

“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 neighboring states,” he said.

Further to the new nationwide measures to be introduced prohibition of all movements during the curfew period, except for essential services.

He said there would be a ban on non-essential inter-state passenger travel until further notice, adding that there would be partial and controlled interstate movement of goods and services from producers to consumers.

Likewise, the president said there would government would strictly ensure the mandatory use of face masks or coverings in public in addition to maintaining physical distancing and personal hygiene.

Furthermore, he said the restrictions on social and religious gatherings shall remain in place, while he encouraged state governments, corporate organisations and philanthropists 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 said.

Monday, April 27, marked the fourth week three states of Abuja, Lagos and Ogun have been on a lockdown, but in his third address since the outbreak of COVID-19, the president said he was approving a “phased and gradual easing” of lockdown measures in the states.

All the new measures taken, the president said were in conformity with the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, that is, the various Federal Government committees who reviewed the socio-economic impact of the restrictions and the Nigeria Governors Forum.

The effectiveness of the measures, the president said 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.”

Highlights of Monday night address by President Buhari reads:

“Selected businesses and offices can open from 9 a.m. to 6p.m. daily;

“There will be an overnight curfew from 8 p.m. to 6am. This means all movements are will be prohibited during this period except essential services;

“There will be a ban on non-essential inter-state passenger travels until further notice;

“There will be partial and controlled interstate movement of goods and services will be allowed to allow 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 gathers shall remain in place.

“State Governments, corporate organisations, and philanthropists are encouraged to support the production of cloth masks for citizens.”