VIDEO: FCT Residents Defy Lockdown Order

At about 10 am on Tuesday morning, the City-Gate, along Umaru Musa Yar’adua Expressway, Abuja witnessed a heavy gridlock as hundreds of motorists defied President Muhammadu Buhari’s lockdown order.

Buhari had ordered the lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States as part of measures to curb the spread of the novel Coronavirus pandemic.

However, barely a week after the lockdown order came into effect, many residents of the Federal Capital territory have started defying the directive as unusual gridlocks were witnessed at most of the roads leading to the city centre.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration had on Monday opened the markets in the territory to operate three times weekly from 7 am to 2 pm but it was surprising that many were still walking/driving around the city on a Tuesday which is outside the days directed for markets to be opened.

“As part of measures to limit the spread of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic in the FCT, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has directed that markets in the territory will now only operate three times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, from 7.000 am to 2:00 pm.” The statement read.

The head of the FCT Taskforce, Ikharo Attah was not available for comment when contacted by RootstvNigeria.

Like Abuja Like Lagos

Just like Abuja, hundreds of motorists defied the sit-at-home order as many were seen stranded along Lekki-Epe Expressway.

In a footage shared on Twitter, hundreds of vehicles were seen stuck in traffic.

“No isolation anymore, no quarantine in Lagos State, from Jakande Estate to Agungi, full hold up is going on right now,” the person, who recorded the video, could be heard saying.

As at Tuesday, 7th of April 2019, Nigeria has recorded 230 cases of COVID-19 with five deaths.