Governors urge Buhari to relax total lockdown order imposed on Lagos, Ogun & Abuja

The Federal Government of Nigeria led by President Muhammadu Buhari has been advised to scale down the total COVID-19 lockdown order imposed on Lagos, Ogun and Abuja.

The advice was contained in a letter by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), dated April 24, 2020, signed by its chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.

In the letter addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation/Chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, the Governors asked President Buhari to allow free movement in all the states, but with restrictions on large gatherings.

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Other things the governors want incorporated into President Buhari’s impending pronouncement on the lockdown are: “Inter-state lockdown, excluding movement of essential supplies- food, beverages, medical and pharmaceutical, petroleum supplies and agricultural products; internal free movement but with restrictions on large gatherings and assemblies; overnight curfews; lockdown of flights; and compulsory use of face masks/coverings in the public.”

Fayemi said NGF’s position was a follow up to a teleconference meeting with the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, on April 22, 2020.

“Recall at the meeting it was agreed that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) articulates the issues that it would want to be included in the next Presidential Pronouncement on COVID-19 so as to have a Uniform and coordinated Policy on COVID-19 at both the national and sub-national levels,” he added.

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