By Idowu Abdullahi,
President Muhammadu Buhari has announced the extension of lockdown and restriction placed on movements in Ogun, Lagos and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for another fourteen days.
He explained that the increase in recorded cases of the coronavirus in the country and various briefings and report from the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 had necessitated the extension and that he had signed the Quarantine Order with additional regulations to provide direction and clarity in the government’s control measures for the coronavirus pandemic.
The President reiterated that the two weeks extension was meant to identify, trace and isolate all individuals that have come into contact with confirmed cases, ensure treatment of confirmed cases while restricting further spread to other states in the country.
Buhari, in a nationwide broadcast on Monday night, while urging the citizens to maintained social distancing and other measures as advised by health experts decried the increasing recorded cases of the virus spreading through communities and person-to-person contacts in the country.
“Today, the cessation of movement, physical distancing measures and the prohibition of mass gatherings remain the most efficient and effective way of reducing the transmission of the virus. By sustaining these measures, combined with extensive testing and contact tracing, we can take control and limit the spread of the disease.
“Our approach to the virus remains in 2 steps – First, to protect the lives of our fellow Nigerians and residents living here and second, to preserve the livelihoods of workers and business owners.
“With this in mind and having carefully considered the briefings and Report from the Presidential Task Force and the various options offered, it has become necessary to extend the current restriction of movement in Lagos and Ogun States as well as the FCT for another fourteen days effective from 11:59 pm on Monday, 13th of April, 2020. I am therefore once again asking you all to work with Government in this fight,” the President said.
