No Country Can Afford Full Impact Of A Sustained Lockdown – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that a nationwide lockdown to combat the COVID-19 pandemic is not feasible in the country because according to him no country can afford the full impact of a sustained lockdown while awaiting the development of vaccines.

In a nationwide broadcast, Monday night, President Buhari, said that the lockdown in Lagos and Ogun states as well as the Federal Capital Territory will be gradually eased as from Monday, 4th May, 2020 but “this will be followed strictly with aggressive reinforcement of testing and contact tracing measures”.

Buhari had in his March 29 speech, settled for a two weeks restriction that focused on Lagos, Ogun States and Abuja in his containment strategy for COVID-19 pandemic and extended it by another two weeks on April 13. It expired yesterday, Monday and was extended again by another one week.

Speaking during the Monday broadcast, President Buhari who acknowledged the lockdown has had adverse effects on the lives of citizens and the nation’s economy, said “Our goal was to develop implementable policies that will ensure our economy continues to function while still maintaining our aggressive response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Fellow Nigerians, for the past four weeks, most parts of our country have been under either Federal Government or State Government lockdown. As I mentioned earlier, these steps were necessary and overall, have contributed to slowing down the spread of COVID-19 in our country.

“However, such lockdowns have also come at a very heavy economic cost. Many of our citizens have lost their means of livelihood. Many businesses have shut down. No country can afford the full impact of a sustained lockdown while awaiting the development of vaccines.

“We assessed how our factories, markets, traders and transporters can continue to function while at the same time adhering to NCDC guidelines on hygiene and social distancing. We assessed how our children can continue to learn without compromising their health.

“We reviewed how our farmers can safely plant and harvest in this rainy season to ensure our food security is not compromised. Furthermore, we also discussed how to safely transport food items from rural production areas to industrial processing zones and ultimately, to the key consumption centers.

“Our goal was to develop implementable policies that will ensure our economy continues to function while still maintaining our aggressive response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These same difficult decisions are being faced by leaders around the world.

“Based on the above and in line with the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the various Federal Government committees that have reviewed socio-economic matters and the Nigeria Governors Forum, I have approved a phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures in FCT, Lagos and Ogun States effective from Monday, 4th May, 2020.

“Furthermore, new nationwide measures are to be introduced as follows; there will be an overnight curfew from 8pm to 6am. This means all movements will be prohibited during this period except for essential services; there will be a ban on non-essential inter-state passenger travel until further notice; Partial and controlled interstate movement of goods and services will be allowed for the movement of goods and services from producers to consumers.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the lockdown in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun States shall remain in place until these new ones come into effect on Monday, 4th May 2020”.