The Federal Government of Nigeria and the State Governors are reported to have disagreed on whether or not the lockdown in most states of the country as part of measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus should be sustained beyond this week.
The call by the state governors for the relaxation of the current lockdown in the country is said not to be in the thinking of the federal government for now.
Partial restrictions in 33 of the 36 states as against relaxation being canvassed by the governors, is what sources say the federal government is in tune with, to mitigate the effects of the lockdown in the country.
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum had in letter to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, after its teleconference meeting held on Wednesday articulated some issues it would want to be included in the next Presidential Pronouncement on Covid-19 so as to have a Uniform and Coordinated Policy on Covid-19 at both the national and sub-national levels.
Subject to the approval of the President, the governors are pushing for Inter-State lockdown excluding movement of essential supplies foods, beverages, medical and pharmaceuticals, petroleum supplies and agricultural products, Internal free movement but with restrictions on large gatherings and assemblies, Overnight curfews, Lockdown of flights and Compulsory use of face masks/ coverings in the public.
President Muhammadu Buhari who is billed to address the nation on Monday is said to be weighing the options before him.
The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 which President Muhammadu Buhari relies on principally for advice on the pandemic is not in agreement with the governors that government should soft pedal in the FCT, Lagos, Ogun and Kano States.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano and that of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, have already relaxed the lockdown in their states.
The two governors on Saturday announced the relaxation of restrictions in their states.
Governor Obiano, in a broadcast to the people of the state on Saturday evening asked churches to commence full activities adding that the worshippers must wear face masks and observe the World Health Organisation’s guidelines during worship.
He said that movements around the state were not restricted, stressing, however, that all boundaries in the state remained closed.
For his part, Governor Makinde, directed the re-opening of the State Secretariat for workers from level 13 upward from Monday.
He said the following guidelines in place to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 within the secretariat, there will be new security measures in place including having only one gate to serve as entrance and exit.