President Muhammadu Buhari has extended the lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states for another 14 days as cases of coronavirus in the country continue to rise.
KanyiDaily recalls that Buhari had on March 29th ordered a total restriction of movement in intye three states for an initial period of 14 days in a bid to check the spread of the coronavirus in the country.
Following the end of the 14-day lockdown on Monday, Buhari announced the extension of the restriction by 14 days, during a nationwide broadcast on Monday night.
He said the decision to lockdown the states and the FCT was a difficult one for his administration, but it will help Nigeria in its fight against the coronavirus.
“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 14 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.
“This is not a joke. It is a matter of life and death. Mosques in Makkah and Madina have been closed. The Pope celebrated Mass on an empty St. Peter’s Square. The famous Notre Dame cathedral in Paris held Easter Mass with less than 10 people. India, Italy and France are in complete lockdown. Other countries are in the process of following suit. We cannot be lax.
“This is a difficult decision to take, but I am convinced that this is the right decision. The evidence is clear.
“The repercussions of any premature end to the lockdown action are unimaginable.
“We must not lose the gains achieved thus far. We must not allow a rapid increase in community transmission. We must endure a little longer,” he said.
Meanwhile, KanyiDaily had reported that there are currently 323 confirmed cases in Nigeria and 10 people have died from the virus while 91 people have been discharged.