Ahead of 11pm lock-down in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States, President, Muhammadu Buhari has exempted banks and other key financial from the lock-down so as to provide skeletal services to residents during the COVID-19 movement restrictions.
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Sunday during his nationwide broadcast, had imposed a total lockdown and restriction of movements in Lagos, Ogun, and Abuja.
During the Address, the President said: “based on the advice of the Federal Ministry of Health and the NCDC, I am directing the cessation of all movements in Lagos and the FCT for an initial period of 14 days with effect from 11 pm on Monday, 30th March 2020.
“This restriction will also apply to Ogun State due to its proximity to Lagos and the high traffic between the two States.”
He urged all citizens in these areas to stay in their homes, adding that travel to or from other states should be postponed.
He also instructed that all businesses and offices within these locations should also be fully closed during this period, President Buhari ordered.
However, the Finance Minister and the CBN Governor in a statement said ” To ensure that Nigerians can still perform online transactions and use ATMs whilst observing these restrictions, we will like to inform the general public and all affected stakeholders that we have obtained exemptions from the President to allow very skeletal operations in the Financial System and Money Markets to keep the system in light operations during this time”.
Also said: “All relevant staff of affected outfits and agencies should look out for further instructions from their immediate bosses”.
‘Notice to affected stakeholders and the general public regarding COVID-19 and restrictions in movement of persons”, they applauded and appreciated the appropriate and proactive restrictions in personal and vehicular movement imposed by President Muhammadu Buhari in his speech of Sunday 29 March 2020.
However, both of them, Zainab Ahmed and Godwin Emefiele stated that they “are mindful of the difficulties these restrictions would bring on ordinary Nigerians and are grateful to the President for approving these exemptions, which should help ease some of these burdens.”
They admonished Nigerians should be patient, should cooperate with the government an stay united as all hands are on deck to kick the virus out of Nigeria soonest.
