The Federal Government on Wednesday said that government offices, banks and businesses would be allowed to open in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states, after five weeks of lockdown.
President Muhammadu Buhari had in a national broadcast on Monday lifted the lockdown imposed in the three locations on March 30, as part of measures to curb the spread of the Coronavirus.
The President said the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 and the state governments would determine the businesses that would be allowed to open based on medical advice.
The National Coordinator of the PTF on Covid-19, Dr. Aliyu Sani disclosed during the daily briefing in Abuja that businesses can open after more than a month of lockdown.
According to him, construction, manufacturing and food processing companies would be allowed to open, while banks would operate from 8a.m. to 2p.m. daily, but must observe the new restrictions put in place by the government.
He pointed out that temperature test, respiratory hygiene and restriction of gathering of not more than 20 persons would be introduced.
He added that PTF would be engaging with state governments to make sure that the PTF had a common approach to the opening of offices.
Sani said: “For government offices, government staff will be allowed to resume from May 4, but it will be based on specific grade levels and specific days so that we can reduce the amount of congestion that we might have in our government offices. We will be discussing further with state governments to make sure that we have a common approach to this.
“Banks will be allowed to open but there will be restriction in the opening hours to between 8a.m. to 2p.m. and together with all the other preventive measures I have already mentioned”.
He stated that companies involved in food processing would commence operation to boost agriculture and rural economy.
The PTF chief said that manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries would be encouraged to shift work and limit staff to only 30 to 50 per cent to maintain social distancing and pharmacy shops may remain open overnight.
He however said schools, restaurants and large gathering would remain closed.
According to him, “restaurants will not be opened to the public but will be allowed to engage in home delivery of food. Schools will remain closed till further evaluation. Schools are encouraged to continue with e-learning and virtual teaching.
“Social activities such as the use of recreational parks, communal sports, concert, social parties and movie theaters will be suspended until further review.
“Neighborhood markets will continue to open with the same standard and restrictions that we have applied in the past as well as supermarkets and retail stores.”
Aliyu encouraged elderly citizens above 65 years old and with mobility challenge to avoid co-mingling with the general public to protect themselves from contracting Covid-19.
He stated: “There will be general pieces of advice, for instance, discouraging persons above the age of 65 and those with mobility challenge from co-mingling with the general public so that they protect themselves from catching COVID-19 because they are the ones that are most likely to develop severe illness.
“We will be providing additional details and hopefully the implementation guidelines and the protocols will follow over the next day or two to allow businesses and offices to prepare for these changes”.
