President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the enforcement of a total lockdown of Kano State for a period of two weeks.
While speaking during a national address on Monday, April 27, 2020, the president said the enforcement takes effect immediately.
Kano has recorded the third highest number of
coronavirus cases in Nigeria with 77, behind Lagos (731) and the Federal
Capital Territory (141).
The state has been a major source of concern for many in the country especially after its testing centre suspended operations last week because three laboratory workers tested positive for the virus and contaminated the lab.
Earlier on Monday, state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, accused the Federal Government of neglecting the state.
However, during his address, Buhari said the state will be provided with everything it needs to prevent a devastating outbreak.
"The Federal Government shall deploy all
the necessary human, material and technical resources to support the
state in controlling and containing the pandemic and preventing the risk
of further spread to neighbouring states," the president said.
Buhari also imposed nationwide measures, that don't currently apply to Kano, that become effective from Monday, May 4.
Chief among the new measures is the mandatory
use of face masks in public, in addition to maintaining physical
distancing and personal hygiene.
"State governments, corporate
organisations and philanthropists are encouraged to support the
production of cloth masks for citizens," Buhari appealed.
Buhari also said there will be an overnight
curfew from 8 pm to 6 am when all movements will be prohibited except
for essential services.
The president also placed a ban on interstate
passenger travel until further notice. However partial and controlled
interstate movement of goods and services will be allowed for the
movement of goods and services from producers to consumers.
The restrictions on social and religious gatherings will also remain in place, according to the president.
The president assured Nigerians that the new
measures will be strictly followed with aggressive reinforcement of
testing and contact tracing measures.
He said the measures will also allow the restoration of some economic and business activities in certain sectors.
Buhari noted that the measures are in line
with the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the
various Federal Government committees that have reviewed socio-economic
matters, and the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).
Nigeria has recorded 1,273 coronavirus cases in 32 states and the FCT, as of April 26.
239 people have recovered, but 40 people have died.