Covid-19: Lagos, Ogun, FCT Under Lockdown For 14 days
TITUS ALLI, Abuja
Effective from 11 pm on Monday 30th March, the trio of Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are to be lockdown for an initial period of 14 days on the order of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Lagos and Abuja have the majority of confirmed cases of coronavirus Nigeria while Ogun state’s inclusion owes to its proximity to Lagos and the high traffic between the two states.
These are part of the highlights of the President’s nationwide broadcast, in which he compelled residents of the three states to stay at home while travels to or from other states should be postponed, and “all businesses and offices within these locations be fully closed during this period”.
“Our focus remains to urgently and drastically contain these cases and to support other states and regions in the best way we can.
President Buhari who noted that the government’s goal is to ensure all states have the right support and manpower to respond immediately noted that ad-hoc workers are currently being recruited to complement those working.
“ So far, in Lagos and Abuja, we have recruited hundreds of ad-hoc staff to man our call centers and support our tracing and testing efforts’, the president said in new measures by the federal government to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic which has now recorded 97 cases in Nigeria.
Consequently, he has ordered the Governors of Lagos, Ogun and the Minister of the FCT, heads of security and intelligence agencies to enforce compliance during this period that is seen as an opportunity “ to identify, trace and isolate all individuals that have come into contact with confirmed cases. We will ensure the treatment of confirmed cases while restricting further spread to other states”
The federal government also banned the movement of all passenger aircraft, both commercial and private jets, while special permits will be issued on a needs basis.
“We are fully aware that such measures will cause much hardship and inconvenience to many citizens. But this is a matter of life and death if we look at the dreadful daily toll of deaths in Italy, France and Spain.
The president’s order, however, exempts hospitals and all related medical establishments as well as organizations in healthcare-related manufacturing and distribution.
Also exempted with a proviso, are commercial establishments like food processing, distribution, and retail companies; petroleum distribution and retail entities, power generation, transmission and distribution companies; and private security companies.
“Although these establishments are exempted, access will be restricted and monitored.
The President also allows workers in telecommunication companies, broadcasters, print, and electronic media staff to open their offices only with the proof they are unable to work from home.
“All seaports in Lagos shall remain operational in accordance with the guidelines I issued earlier. Vehicles and drivers conveying essential cargoes from these Ports to other parts of the country will be screened thoroughly before departure by the Ports Health Authority.
“Furthermore, all vehicles conveying food and other essential humanitarian items into these locations from other parts of the country will also be screened thoroughly before they are allowed to enter these restricted areas.
Accordingly, the Minister of Health has been ordered to redeploy all Port Health Authority employees previously stationed in the Lagos and Abuja Airports to key roads that serve as entry and exit points to these restricted zones.
Speaking on palliative measures, the President said he has directed that a three-month repayment moratorium for all TraderMoni, MarketMoni and FarmerMoni loans be implemented with immediate effect.
“I have also directed that a similar moratorium be given to all Federal Government funded loans issued by the Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture and the Nigeria Export-Import Bank.
Others include on-lending facilities using capital from international and multilateral development partners, where the President directed development financial institutions to engage these development partners and negotiate concessions to ease the pains of the borrowers.
“For the most vulnerable in our society, I have directed that the conditional cash transfers for the next two months be paid immediately. Our Internally displaced persons will also receive two months of food rations in the coming weeks.
He appealed to all Nigerians to take personal responsibility to support those who are vulnerable within their communities, helping them with whatever they may need.
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