Nigeria Enters 2-Week Lockdown

Nigeria will be entering a 14-day lockdown starting from tonight, Monday 30 March, in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

There are approximately 111 confirmed cases of the virus in the west African country.

Speaking at a televised live address yesterday, Sunday 29 March, President Muhammadu Buhari declared that all businesses and offices in two of Nigeria’s major cities, Lagos and Abuja, are to be closed down for a fortnight.

Although hospitals, food shops and petrol stations among other essential services will remain open, Buhari declared that Nigerian residents must remain at home until the lockdown concludes on 13 April.

Travel to or from other states will be banned, while ports will remain open to receive cargo only. A special fund of $40 million has been set aside to help deal with the ongoing pandemic.

Buhari said: “We are fully aware that such measures will cause much hardship and inconvenience to many citizens. But this is a matter of life and death.”

The lockdown will commence at 23:00 local time tonight.

Image Credit: Source