As the war against the dreaded COVID-19 rages on and with Nigeria continual recording of new cases, Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari for the third time on Monday, April 27, 2020, addressed the nation on further measures taken by the government, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and other relevant agencies to checkmate the COVID-19 rage.
Nigeria’s President
Below are highlights of President Muhammadu Buhari’s nationwide broadcast:
- Lockdown still in place in Lagos, Abuja and Ogun.
- Lockdown to be relaxed by Monday 4th May.
- From Monday 4th May selected businesses to open from 8 am to 6 pm
- The curfew applies from 8 pm to 6 am
- Restriction on social and religious gathering remain in place.
- No interstate movement until further notice.
- Kano on total lockdown for the next 2 weeks
- 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.
- Strictly ensuring the mandatory use of facemasks or coverings in public in addition to maintaining physical distancing and personal hygiene.
- 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.
It will be recalled that in his previous addresses to the nation, President Buhari placed a total lockdown on Lagos, Ogun States and the federal capital territory of Abuja. However, with the easing of the lockdown in these parts, President Buhari announced a complete lockdown of Kano State for the next two weeks given the increasing numbers of deaths recorded in the state.
President Buhari in his latest address thanked the security agencies and other philanthropic organisations for generously supporting with their resources the fight against COVID-19.
Meanwhile, President Buhari directed relevant agencies to intensify testing across the nation.
