Monday, April 13, 2020 / 08.30PM / Presidency / Header Image Credit: @NigeriaGov
President
Muhammadu in his nationwide broadcast today announced an extension of the
lockdown in FCT Abuja, Lagos and Ogun state for another 14 days.
Below
is the speech of the President on the decision to extend the lockdown
Fellow Nigerians, In my address on Sunday, 29th March, 2020, I asked the
residents of Lagos and Ogun States as well as the Federal Capital Territory to
stay at home for an initial period of fourteen days starting from Monday, 30th
March 2020.
Many State Governments also introduced similar restrictions. As your
democratically elected leaders, we made this very difficult decision knowing
fully well it will severely disrupt your livelihoods and bring undue hardship
to you, your loved ones and your communities.
However, such sacrifices are needed to limit the spread of COVID-19 in
our country. They were necessary to save lives. Our objective was, and still
remains, to contain the spread of the Coronavirus and to provide space, time
and resources for an aggressive and collective action.
The level of compliance to the COVID-19 guidelines issued has been
generally good across the country. I wish to thank you all most sincerely for
the great sacrifice you are making for each other at this critical time.
I will take this opportunity to recognise the massive support from our
traditional rulers, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Nigerian
Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) during this pandemic.
I also acknowledge the support and contributions received from
public-spirited individuals, the business community and our international
partners and friends.
I must also thank the media houses, celebrities and other public figures
for the great work they are doing in sensitizing our citizens on hygienic practices,
social distancing and issues associated with social gatherings.
As a result of the overwhelming support & cooperation received, we
were able to achieve a lot during these 14 days of initial lockdown. We
implemented comprehensive public health measures that intensified our case
identification, testing, isolation & contact tracing capabilities.
To date, we have identified 92% of all identified contacts while
doubling the number of testing laboratories in the country and raising our
testing capacity to 1,500 tests per day.
We also trained over 7,000 healthcare workers on infection prevention
and control, while deploying NCDC teams to 19 states of the federation.
Lagos and Abuja today have the capacity to admit some 1,000 patients
each across several treatment centres. Many State Governments have also made
provisions for isolation wards and treatment centres. We will also build
similar centers near our airports and land borders.
Using our resources and those provided through donations, we will
adequately equip and man these centres in the coming weeks.
Already, health care
workers across all the treatment centers have been provided with the personal
protective equipment that they need to safely carry out the care they provide.
Our hope and prayers are that we do not have to use all these centres.
But we will be ready for all eventualities.
At this point, I must recognise the incredible work being done by our
healthcare workers and volunteers across the country especially in frontline
areas of Lagos and Ogun States as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
You are our heroes and as a nation, we will forever remain grateful for
your sacrifice during this very difficult time. More measures to motivate our
health care workers are being introduced which we will announce in the coming
weeks.
As a nation, we are on the right track to win the fight against
COVID-19. However, I remain concerned about the increase in number of confirmed
cases and deaths being reported across the world and in Nigeria specifically.
On 30th March 2020, when we started our lockdown in conforming with
medical and scientific advice, the total number of confirmed cases across the
world was over 780,000.
Yesterday, the number
of confirmed COVID-19 cases globally was over one million, eight hundred and
fifty thousand. This figure is more than double in two weeks!
In the last fourteen days alone, over 70,000 people have died due to
this disease. In the same period, we have seen the health systems of even the
most developed nations being overwhelmed by this virus.
Here in Nigeria, we had 131 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in 12 States on
30th March 2020. We had two fatalities then.
This morning, Nigeria had 323 confirmed cases in twenty States.
Unfortunately we now have ten fatalities. Lagos State remains the center and
accounts for 54% of the confirmed cases in Nigeria.
When combined with the FCT, the two locations represent over 71% of the
confirmed cases in Nigeria.
Most of our efforts will continue to focus in these two locations.
Majority of the confirmed cases in Lagos and the FCT are individuals with
recent international travel history or those that came into contact with
returnees from international trips.
By closing our airports and land borders and putting strict conditions
for seaport activities, we have reduced the impact of external factors on our
country. However, the increase in the number of States with positive cases is
alarming.
The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has informed me that, a
large proportion of new infections are now occurring in our communities,
through person-to-person contacts. So we must pay attention to the danger of
close contact between person to person.
At this point, I will remind all Nigerians to continue to take
responsibility for the recommended measures to prevent transmission, including
maintaining physical distancing, good personal hygiene and staying at home.
In addition, I have signed the Quarantine Order in this regard and
additional regulations to provide clarity in respect of the control measures
for the COVID-19 pandemic which will be released soon.
The public health response to COVID-19 is built on our ability to
detect, test and admit cases as well as trace all their contacts. While I note
some appreciable progress, we can achieve a lot more.
Today, the cessation of movement, physical distancing measures and the
prohibition of mass gatherings remain the most efficient and effective way of
reducing the transmission of the virus.
By sustaining these measures, combined with extensive testing and
contact tracing, we can take control and limit the spread of the disease.
Our approach to the virus remains in 2 steps - First, to protect the
lives of our fellow Nigerians and residents living here and second, to preserve
the livelihoods of workers and business owners.
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.
The previously issued guidelines on exempted services shall remain. 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.
I will therefore take this opportunity to urge you all to notify the
relevant authorities if you or your loved ones develop any symptoms.
I will also ask our health care professionals to redouble their efforts
to identify all suspected cases, bring them into care and prevent transmission
to others.
No country can afford the full impact of a sustained restriction of
movement on its economy. I am fully aware of the great difficulties experienced
especially by those who earn a daily wage such as traders, dayworkers, artisans
and manual workers.
For this group, their sustenance depends on their ability to go out.
Their livelihoods depend on them mingling with others and about seeking work.
But despite these realities we must not change the restrictions.
In the past two weeks, we announced palliative measures such as food
distribution, cash transfers and loans repayment waivers to ease the pains of
our restrictive policies during this difficult time. These palliatives will be
sustained.
I have also directed that the current Social Register be expanded from
2.6 million households to 3.6 million households in the next two weeks.
This means we will support an additional one million homes with our
social investment programs. A technical committee is working on this and will
submit a report to me by the end of this week.
The Security Agencies have risen to the challenges posed by this
unprecedented situation with gallantry and I commend them.
I urge them to continue to maintain utmost vigilance, firmness as well
as restraint in enforcing the restriction orders while not neglecting statutory
security responsibilities.
Fellow Nigerians, follow the instructions on social distancing. The
irresponsibility of the few can lead to the death of the many. Your freedom
ends where other people's rights begin.
As a result of this pandemic, the world as we know it has changed. The
way we interact with each other, conduct our businesses and trade, travel,
educate our children and earn our livelihoods will be different.
The response of our State Governors has been particularly impressive,
especially in aligning their policies and actions to those of the Federal
Government.
In the coming weeks, I want to assure you that the Federal Government,
through the Presidential Task Force, will do whatever it takes to support you
in this very difficult period.
I have no doubt that, by working together and carefully following the
rules, we shall get over this pandemic.
I must also thank the Legislative arm of Government for all its support
and donations in this very difficult period. This collaboration is critical to
the short and long-term success of all the measures that we have instituted in
response to the pandemic.
As a result of this pandemic, the world as we know it has changed. The
way we interact with each other, conduct our businesses and trade, travel,
educate our children and earn our livelihoods will be different.
To ensure our economy adapts to this new reality, I am directing the
Ministers of Industry, Trade and Investment, Communication and Digital Economy,
Science and Technology, Transportation, Aviation, Interior, Health, Works and
Housing, Labour and Employment and Education to .jointly develop a
comprehensive policy for a "Nigerian economy functioning with COVID-19".
The Ministers will be supported by the Presidential Economic Advisory
Council and the Economic Sustainability Committee in executing this mandate.
Finally, I want to thank the members of the Presidential Task Force on
COVID-19 for all their hard work so far. Indeed, the patriotism shown in your
work is exemplary and highly commendable.
I am also directing the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,
the National Security Adviser, the Vice Chairman, National Food Security
Council and the Chairman, Presidential Fertilizer Initiative to work with the
Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 ... to ensure the
impact of this pandemic on our 2020 farming season is minimized.
Fellow Nigerians, I have no doubt that by working together and carefully
following the rules, we shall get over this pandemic and emerge stronger in the
end.
"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."
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.
Fellow Nigerians, I have no doubt that by working together and carefully
following the rules, we shall get over this pandemic and emerge stronger in the
end.
I thank you all for listening and may God bless the Federal Republic of
Nigeria.
Related
News
1.
President
Buhari Signs COVID-19 Regulations 2020
2. Katsina State
Govt Lifts Ban on Friday Prayers; To Be Conducted Under Stipulated Health
Guidelines
3. Alibaba to Collaborate With African Medical Experts Via
MediXChange to Minimize COVID-19 Outbreak
4. 5 Ways to Stay Positive and Productive During the COVID-19
Lockdown
6. COVID-19: Medical Facilities to be Provided in 6 Geo-Political
Zones of Nigeria
7. COVID-19: President Buhari Announces Lockdown In Lagos,
FCT and Ogun for 14days
8. COVID-19: The Social Implication of a Pandemic
9. COVID-19: WARIF Tackles Abuse of Women and Girls in Self
Isolation
10. Seeking Digital Health Companies Enabling Health
Management in Nigeria - Request For Info
11. COVID-19: Access Bank, Ecobank Bank Leverage Online
Channels
12. Philanthropic Efforts Towards COVID-19 Containment
Globally
13. Non-Essential Federal Public Servants to Stay and Work
From Home to Check Spread of COVID-19
14. COVID-19: Presidential Task Force Issues Statement; FEC
Meetings Suspended Until Further Notice
15. Coronavirus: Oyo State Activates Emergency Operating
Centres, Names Incident Manager