Nigerian newspapers · 28 April 2020
Buhari Declares 'Gradual Easing of Lockdown Measures'
Nigerian news from AbokiFX Rate
- Social And Religious Gatherings Still Banned
- Wearing of Face Masks Mandatory
President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that Nigeria will start easing a coronavirus lockdown covering its largest city Lagos and capital Abuja from 4 May. The President said this on Monday in his address to the nation.
"I have approved a phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures," Buhari said in a televised broadcast. He unveiled new measures including a nationwide night-time curfew, mandatory wearing of face masks and a ban on "non-essential" travel between different regions.
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He also announced an immediate two-week lockdown in northern Nigeria's largest city Kano after officials said they were probing a spate of "mysterious deaths".
More than 25 million residents in Abuja, Lagos and neighbouring Ogun state have been under federal lockdown since 30 March and other states have introduced their own restrictions.
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The government faces a difficult balancing act trying to curb the spread of the virus and contain growing the desperation of vast numbers living hand-to-mouth in Africa's most populous country.
"Such lockdowns have also come at a very heavy economic cost," Buhari said in the address. "Many of our citizens have lost their means of livelihood. Many businesses have shut down."
He said the new measures were "implementable policies that will ensure our economy continues to function while still maintaining our aggressive response to the Covid-19 pandemic".
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Nigeria, with a population of 200 million, has reported 1 273 confirmed infections, including 40 deaths. But testing has been limited and the head of the disease control agency has put out an appeal for kits. Buhari said officials were looking to bolster the rate of testing by accrediting private laboratories.
He announced the federal government would deploy "all the necessary human, material and technical resources" to support Kano state in controlling the pandemic.
The state's governor on Monday said officials were investigating a spike in "mysterious deaths", but insisted initial indications suggested they were not linked to coronavirus.