By Ifeoma Ezenyilimba
The NIgerian President, General Muhammadu Buhari in his Presidential broadcast, on April 13, announced the extension of lockdown in the country by 14 days.
President Buhari who observed that the issue of COVID-19 was a matter of life and death, said the extension was necessary so as to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
He announced that the 14-day lockdown, would be with effect from 11.59 pm, Monday, 13th April, 2020.
According to the president, the lockdown would be strictly observed in F.C.T., Lagos State and Ogun State.
The NIgerian President also announced the continuation of the distribution of palliatives such as food and cash to the masses. He said the distribution was targeted to reach an addition of 1 million households in the next two weeks.
According to him, he had directed that the beneficiaries be increased from 2.6 million households to 3.6 million households.
President Buhari also announced that the previously issued guidelines on suspension of public gatherings, washing of hands regularly with soap and running water, use of alcohol based hand sanitisers, social distancing and maintenance of basic hygiene, remained.
