Extending lockdown further not sustainable –ACCI

The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has warned the Nigerian government not to extend the current lockdown beyond 27th April, saying the decision is unsustainable.

The Nigerian government had on 2nd April declared a fortnight lockdown as a key measure in containing the spread of COVID-19, and further prolonged the movement restriction by another two weeks after the initial order expired.

In a strategy paper released by the ACCI in Abuja Wednesday, the chamber recommended the designing and execution of an exit plan as a preliminary action to reopening the economy.

The ACCI observed in its proposal to the Presidential Taskforce, signed by Adetokunbo Kayode (its president) on behalf of the Organised Private Sector that a further extension of the lockdown beyond 27th April was unsustainable.

“The situation report from underprivileged grassroots areas, city suburbs and inner city areas indicate increasing restlessness among those whose livelihood depends on daily pay or trading.

“It is agreed that the lockdown was occasioned by dire need to contain the pandemic.

“But by now, the conclusion of the third week of the lockdown, there are urgent calls for the designing of an exit strategy,” the document read.

The exit strategy is anticipated to harmonise the continuation of methods to curb and minimise further spread of the pandemic and also reduce the current severe socioeconomic hardships confronting the populace.

“The current total lockdown in most states of the country is becoming unsustainable as resistance from the poor will continue to grow, especially within the suburbs and city slum settlements where majority of the population resides,” the ACCI statement noted.

Read also: Disbursement of CBN’s N50bn COVID-19 intervention fund commences Thursday

It observed that many countries around the world were already coming up with exit strategies with focus on security and sustenance of livelihoods.

The ACCI proposed that a technology-driven COVID-19 tracking system be deployed by the federal and state governments when the lockdown is over in order to make tracking, tracing and identification easier.

It emphasised the imperative of enforcing the social and physical distancing directive.

“We support mandatory use of face masks and permit use of scarves or any cloth where there is no face mask in public places, public transport, market places, open places.

“The stimulus and palliatives being provided by the states and the federal government is a great initiative.”

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