The Federal Government has imposed a total lockdown on Lagos State, Ogun State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, as a way of preventing the spread of coronavirus across the country.
The lockdown will be for 14 days with effect from 11pm on Monday.
President Muhammadu Buhari made this declaration on Sunday in a nationwide broadcast on coronavirus.
By the declaration, all citizens in the affected states are to stay in their homes.
There would also be no travel to or from other states and all businesses and offices within the locations would be fully closed during the period.
He said the step was taken following the advice of the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC.
The president said the governors of the affected states had been notified of the lockdown.
His words: “Based on the advice of the Federal Ministry of Health and the NCDC, I am directing the cessation of all movements in Lagos and the FCT for an initial period of 14 days with effect from 11pm on Monday, 30th March 2020. This restriction will also apply to Ogun State due to its close proximity to Lagos and the high traffic between the two States.
“All citizens in these areas are to stay in their homes. Travel to or from other states should be postponed. All businesses and offices within these locations should be fully closed during this period.
“The Governors of Lagos and Ogun States as well as the Minister of the FCT have been notified. Furthermore, heads of security and intelligence agencies have also been briefed.
“We will use this containment period 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 president said the order did not apply to hospitals and all related medical establishments as well as organisations in health care related manufacturing and distribution.
He added: “Furthermore, commercial establishments such as:
- food processing, distribution and retail companies;
- petroleum distribution and retail entities,
- power generation, transmission and distribution companies; and
- private security companies are also exempted.
“Although these establishments are exempted, access will be restricted and monitored.
“Workers in telecommunication companies, broadcasters, print and electronic media staff who can prove they are unable to work from home are also exempted.”
The president promised that relief materials would be sent to areas that would be affected.
“For residents of satellite and commuter towns and communities around Lagos and Abuja whose livelihoods will surely be affected by some of these restrictive measures, we shall deploy relief materials to ease their pains in the coming weeks,” the president said.
