MON, APRIL 27 2020-theG&BJournal- President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures in FCT, Lagos and Ogun States effective from Saturday, 2nd May, 2020 at 9 am, based on the recommendation of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
The approval is part of a raft of new measures he announced today as the Federal Government tries to balance the demands of reopening the country partially and containing the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The President noted that the lock downs have come at a very heavy economic cost.
‘’Many of our citizens have lost their means of livelihoods. Many businesses have also shut down. No country can afford the full impact of a sustained lock down while awaiting the development of vaccines or cures.’’
He also directed the Central Bank of Nigeria and other financial institutions to make further plans and provisions for financial stimulus packages for small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs), saying ‘’we recognise the critical role that they play in Nigeria’s economy.’’
According to the president, ‘’We looked at and assessed how our factories, markets, traders and transporters can continue to function while at the same time respecting adhering to the NCDC guidelines on hygiene and social distancing.
We assessed how our children can continue to learn without compromising their health and 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 centers.
‘’Our goal was to develop implementable policies that will ensure our economy continues to function with while still maintaining our aggressive response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These same difficult decisions are being faced by leaders around the world.’’
The highlights of the new nationwide measures are; the reopening of selected businesses and offices from 9 am to 6 pm; an overnight curfew from 8 pm to 6 am. This means all movements are will be prohibited during this period except essential services; a ban on non-essential inter-state passenger travels until further notice; partial and controlled interstate movement of goods and services and 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 remain in place.
‘’State Governments, corporate organisations and philanthropists are encouraged to support the production of cloth masks for citizens,’’ the President said.
He also spoke to the security challenges the country face in the light of the lock down and assured that culprits will be brought to justice.
Kano State also got a special mention. The President said the revised guidelines will not apply to Kano State.
‘’The total lock down recently announced by the Kano State Government shall remain enforced for the full duration. The Federal Government shall deploy all the necessary human, material and technical resources to support the State in controlling and containing the pandemic,’’ he said.
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