The lockdown imposed on Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to curb the coronavirus spread will be relaxed from Monday, May 4th.



President Muhammadu Buhari in a televised broadcast on Monday says the decision to ease the lockdown was taken in line with the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the various Federal Government committees on socio-economic matters and the Nigeria Governors Forum.



Buhari, however, said relaxing the lockdown will be followed strictly with aggressive testing and contact tracing measures while allowing the resumption of "some economic and business activities in certain sectors."



Speaking, the President revealed that relaxing the lockdown means “selected businesses and offices can open from 9am to 6pm” but an overnight “curfew will be imposed from 8 pm to 6 am” and “all non-essential movements will be prohibited during this period essential services.”

Explaining further on what ‘gradually’ relaxing the lockdown will look like, Buhari said residents will be allowed to move goods and services from producers to consumers within the same state but non-essential inter-state passenger travel still remains suspended.

Nigerians will also be mandated to wear face masks or coverings in public "in addition to maintaining physical distancing and personal hygiene." Also, there shall be no social and religious gatherings.

The President finally stressed that the current lockdown will "remain in place until these new ones come into effect on Monday, 4th May 2020 at 9am.”
Recall that President Buhari had put Lagos, Ogun and the FCT on lockdown since March 30.