Lockdown extension: Expectations as Nigerians await Buhari’s fresh directives

Nigerians are currently in a state of uncertainty ahead of expected statement from President Muhammadu Buhari later on Sunday.

As at the time of writing this, no official communication regarding when the President will address the country from the media unit of the presidency in Aso Rock.
Blueprint recalls that earlier, this week, many prominent Nigerians including the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) spoke of the need for the federal government to relapse the lockdown due to untold hardship it has placed on citizens.

However, the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) appealed to the President to stop inter-state movements.

Their position was contained in a letter addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation/Chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha.

They requested inter-state lockdown, free movement of essential supplies such as food, beverages, medical and pharmaceutical, petroleum supplies and agricultural products.

Others are internal free movement but restrictions on large gatherings and assemblies, overnight curfews, flights ban and compulsory use of face masks/coverings in public.

Based on the latest information from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), 35 persons have so far died with 1182 cases in the country.