Update on the Coronavirus -Covid19 by the
Incident Commander, Governor Babajide Sanwo-
Olu
My dear Lagosians, greetings.
1) It has become necessary for me to address
you, once again, on the serious challenge of
Coronavirus, the lethal disease the world has
been battling, following some developments.
2) First, I would like to salute you for your
endurance, following some measures we had
announced in our desperate bid to fight and
defeat this pandemic, which has changed the
way we used to see our world. No aspect of
human life – education, entertainment, sports,
aviation and others - has been spared by this
lethal disease, yet we are determined to halt it in
its perilous path by joining forces with the
Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for
Disease Control (NCDC), the World Health
Organisation (WHO), UNICEF and many others.
3) President Muhammadu Buhari has just made
some pronouncements on the nation’s battle-plan
against Coronavirus. He has announced that as
from 11pm on Monday 30th of March 2020,
movement will be restricted in Lagos State for 14
days. Only people rendering essential services,
such as health workers, manufacturers and
distributors of health equipment and drugs, food
and water companies are expected to go out.
4) Also allowed to move are workers in
telecommunications, petroleum distribution and
retailing as well as power companies and the
media, among others whose jobs cannot be
handled at home. I have no doubt in my mind
that you will understand that this restriction,
tough as it may seem, is a necessary step we
must take in our battle against this virus. It is,
my dear Lagosians, a matter of life and death.
Our choice is clear – life. This means victory
over this pandemic, against which there is yet no
vaccine. This is why we must co-operate with
the authorities as long as this restriction lasts.
5) The restriction, needless to say, will enhance
our chances of defeating Coronavirus for the
following reasons:
• Our medical workers will have room to move
faster to cases that they need to handle;
• The disease will be contained faster as those
infected will be easily identified and isolated as
the treatment for the disease demands; and
• Social distancing will be enhanced and more
people will be prevented from contracting the
disease.
6) I would like to address the fears of those who
have expressed some security concerns about
your places of work and shops during this
restriction. I have directed the police and other
security agents to ensure that there are no
security breaches. They will ensure that
criminals do not take advantage of this important
measure.
7) The private sector, our market leaders and
traders are advised to use the window of
opportunity that we have before 11pm to move
out inflammable materials, such as petrol,
kerosene and others, from their offices and
shops, which they are free to open before the
restriction begins. They are also advised to
switch off all electrical and electronic
appliances. These measures are to stave off fire
incidents during the 14-day restriction.
Members of the public are advised to also use
this window to make last-minute shopping in
readiness for the restriction.
9) You must have noticed our efforts to disinfect
our public places, including parks and highways.
The exercise will continue and extend to our
rural and riverine areas.
10) As I had earlier promised that the poor and
vulnerable among us will not be left to their own
devices, we have since started our welfare
package for this class of people, those who live
on daily earnings and the jobless. The hitches
noticed in the distribution of the food package
are being addressed so as to make the exercise
healthier and more dignifying.
11) Again, let me assure you that there is no
need to panic, even as the number of those
infected is rising and our fear of community
spreading is being confirmed by the cases that
are being handled now. This is the time to be
more focused on our responsibility in this battle.
Let us continue to obey the simple rules
prescribed by the experts. These include social
distancing, even as we remain indoors, washing
of our hands with soap and water as many times
as possible, covering our mouths when we
sneeze or cough and avoiding any gathering for
whatever reason.
12) I salute all our health workers who have
been on the frontlines of this battle against an
unseen enemy. They have been working round
the clock to ensure that we come out of this
with our heads unbowed. These men and women
are worthy compatriots; we recognise their
labour of love.
13) I salute also the comradeship of some
members of the private sector, who have joined
us in this battle. They have done well.
14) There will be no let-up in our determination
to ride out this storm. With your co-operation
and the grace of The Almighty, we will surely win
this war.
15) Thank you