Residents of Lagos and other states affected by the federal government’s stay-at-home order which began on March 30 to curb spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, are beginning to express a sign of relief over the expectation that the federal government may likely re-opens the economy fully as the second week of gradual easing of lockdown expires today, Monday, June 1.
It can be recalled that the President had announced a phased and gradual easing of the lockdown in Lagos State, Ogun State and the Federal Capital Territory in his nationwide broadcast on update and measures for the containment of the coronavirus pandemic on April 27. At the expiration, FG extended it again by another two week which expires today.
A cross section of residents in the state expressed the hope that government would further relaxed the lockdown, they however, pointed out that since index cases of the virus is still on the rise, there is the possibility of enforcing some precautions, especially the use of facemask.
“I’m teacher in a private school in Ogba, and schools have been under lock and key since March 30. I don’t have money in my pocket. I just hope government will open the schools so that we can go back to work,” said father-of-three Gbenga Oludare, who have been home since the lockdown was first announced at the end of March.
The decision to begin a phased lifting of the lockdown despite the recent sharp rise in cases was criticised by some medical experts including the Nigerian Medical Association.
The NMA president, Francis Faduyile, said the move was “very premature” and risked driving up the rate of infections, which he called a “frightening scenario”.
