Sunday, April 26, 2020 12:48 PM / by LASG/ Header Image Credit: @followlasg
Dear Lagosians,
I am here again today to address you on some issues
regarding the Coronavirus pandemic.
But I must start on a very special note, by wishing
all our Muslim brothers and sisters Ramadan Kareem. This is an important season
to the life of every Muslim around the world; a commemoration of one of the
pillars of Islam. Ramadan is a time that demands obedience, self-dental,
sacrifice, discipline, and a re-dedication of one's life to the worship of
Almighty Allah.
This year's commemoration, as you all know, is taking
place in unusual circumstances. When the year 2020 kicked off, nobody imagined
that Ramadan would take place amidst a global lockdown, occasioned by the
greatest public health challenge of our lifetime.
In the spirit of sacrifice and discipline that Ramadan
represents, I want to make this appeal to all our Muslim brothers and sisters
1n Lagos State, to please ensure that the observance of the season 1s carried
out in a manner that is compliant with all the health directives that we have
laid out to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.
Observe all your meals and prayers within your homes.
I know that the usual practice is for people to gather together to observe
Iftar and Suhur, but please, because of the pandemic, we must during this month
of Ramadan shelve all gatherings.
These restrictions also apply to the congregational 'Tarawih prayers and 'Tafsir sessions that are the hallmarks of this devout
period.
When you want to perform ablution, please ensure to
first wash your hands very well with soap. Since the process of ablution involves
touching the face, it is essential to make sure that your hands are clean.
Having washed your hands with soap and water, you can then go ahead to perform
the ablution as is customary.
As you very well know, every action that is taken to
prevent the spread of any contagious disease is fully in line with the
teachings of the Holy Quran.
It is for these same reasons that the two Holy Mosques
in Saudi Arabia are currently closed to the public. A few days ago, the
Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, under the leadership of the
Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar, CFR, directed
that there should be no congregational prayers and teaching sessions in mosques
during this Ramadan.
By complying with these directives and orders we will
be protecting ourselves, our dear State and the nation at large from the
Coronavirus.
May the Almighty God, who has spared our lives to see
this Ramadan month, make it possible for us to be here again this time next
year. Amen.
Situation Update
Dear Lagosians, as at midnight yesterday April 24,
2020, Lagos State had a total of 670 confirmed cases of Covid-19, an increase
of 291 cases since the last time I addressed you, on Monday April 20. What this
means is that we have seen a 76% increase 1n our number of confirmed cases
within 4 days, an average of 70 cases daily. These numbers demonstrate the
following:
One, that we are now firmly in the community
transmission phase of this pandemic in Lagos;
Two, that our strategy of ramping up testing especially
within local communities is working, and,
Three, that this is not the time for us to relax or to
slow down in the efforts we are making to break the chain of transmission.
On an uplifting note, the number of discharged cases
in Lagos continues to rise, only yesterday we discharged another batch of 10
patients who have been treated and have now tested negative for the virus. We
have now discharged a total of 115 cases in Lagos since the outbreak of the
pandemic. We expect that the numbers of discharged patients will continue to
rise and bring hope and optimism to all of us, not only in Lagos but across the
country as well.
FUNERALS
Dear Lagosians, keeping the rising curve of the
infection at the back of our minds, the only people who should be out and about
at this period are those who absolutely have to be.
Everyone else, please stay at home!
For those who have to go out, please ensure that you
use a mask, and maintain appropriate physical distancing.
Still on this matter of essential movement, I would
like to speak concerning funerals. One of the outcomes of this lockdown is that
many families and households have had to postpone funeral plans for loved ones
who have passed away before or during this period.
As you might know, many Christian denominations do not
carry out funerals during the Lenten Season. Funerals are typically kept on
hold during this period, and scheduled for the period immediately following the
end of Lent.
Unfortunately, this year, the Covid-19 Lockdown
coincided with the end of Lent, which caused many families and households to
further suspend or put off funeral plans.
Because of this inability to hold funerals, occasioned
by the restrictions on movement, the mortuaries in Lagos State are now full and
in urgent need of decongestion. Let me make it clear at this point that these
are not Covid-19 deaths.
I urge the media to be responsible 1n reporting this:
The mortuaries in Lagos are not full because of Covid-19 deaths - the total
number of Covid-19 deaths in Lagos as at today is 20; the only reason the
mortuaries are full at this time is because funerals are not being held, and
have not been held for most of the last two months.
I am now constrained to make this appeal to all
Lagosians who have the corpses of loved ones in the mortuaries, to please go
ahead and schedule these funerals.
Let me make it clear that funerals are on the list of
activities exempted from the lockdown restrictions. You can hold or attend
funeral ceremonies in Lagos State as long as you comply with the requirements
that we have outlined, as follows:
Rest assured that as long as these directives are
fully complied with, funerals will be allowed and encouraged to take place.
If we are unable to see a decongestion of the
mortuaries across the State in the next two weeks, the Lagos State Government
will be compelled to carry out mass burials to achieve this. We do not want to
be forced to do this, which is why we are asking for your cooperation in this
regard.
Face
Masks
I have touched on the issue of masks a few times in
previous addresses. Let me now formally announce that face masks are now
compulsory in public places in Lagos State. Failure to use masks 1n public will
invite sanctions and penalties.
We have commenced arrangements for the production of
large quantities of face-masks for the use of the people of Lagos State. This
is indeed a great opportunity for many businesses, small and large, in the
State, to contribute to the Covid-19 response while also getting a chance to do
business and earn money.
I want to appeal to the private sector to please
patronise these manufacturers, and purchase these masks for distribution to
your employees.
I would also like to urge everyone to please leave the
medical-grade N-95 masks for the use of medical workers who need them the most.
All of us, who are not medical workers should make do with simple cloth masks.
Prerogative
Of Mercy
Dear people of Lagos, in exercise of the powers
conferred on me by Section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria 1999 (as amended), I have, this afternoon, following the recommendation
of the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, signed a Release Order
releasing 209 inmates remanded in various correctional centres in Lagos State.
This was done in part to decongest correctional
centres 1n view of the Covid-19 Pandemic; and is part of a larger effort to
bring lasting reform to the administration of criminal justice in the country.
The beneficiaries of this release order are the
following:
The
Spirit Of The Season
As I end this address, I want to appeal to all of us
who are privileged, in this period, to carry on 1n this spirit of kindness and
mercy and endeavour to extend a hand of kindness to all those who are less
endowed around us, in our compounds, estates, neighbourhoods.
I know that many people are already doing this, I want
to encourage even more people to do so; to share meals, and kindness. 'To be
privileged in this situation does not necessarily mean that you are rich or
that you have far more than you need, it simply means being able to share out
of whatever you have been blessed with.
This is the spirit of the Ramadan season we are in,
the spirit of sacrifice, of sharing.
Once again I pray for all Muslim faithful 1n Lagos
State, that you will experience the fullness of the blessings of this Holy
Month. Amen.
I thank you all for listening.
Thank you
Mr Babajide
Sanwo-Olu
Governor, Lagos
State
April 25, 2020
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