State governors have written to the Federal Government requesting President Muhammadu Buhari to close all internal borders to all but essential movements as part of measures to fight coronavirus.
This is contained in a letter signed by Chairman Nigeria Governors’ Forum and addressed to Governor Kayodd Fayemi of Ekiti State and addressd to Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, on Friday.
President Buhari is expected to address the nation on the FG’s progress in the fight against coronavirus, not later than Monday April 27, when the ongoing total lockdown of the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and Ogun States elapses.
Another stay-at-home order is, however, being feared as the virus continue to spread across the country.
In the letter, Governor Fayemi recalled the meeting the Forum had with Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
Lagos and Ogun states, as well as Nigerian capital Abuja, are already under federally imposed lockdowns, while various states have instigated their own containment measures.
The governors are requesting for an inter-state lockdown, excluding movement of essential supplies- food, beverages, medical and pharmaceutical, petroleum supplies and agricultural products; internal free movement but with restrictions on large gatherings and assemblies; overnight curfews; lockdown of flights; and compulsory use of face masks/coverings in the public as measures in the President’s plan to combat the spread of the Coronavirus.
“Governors unanimously agreed to the implementation of an interstate lockdown in the country over the next two weeks to mitigate the spread of the virus from state to state,” the Nigeria Governors’ Forum said in a statement issued late on Wednesday.
Only essential services will be permitted, the statement added without providing further detail.
Only President Buhari can impose a total cessation of interstate movement.
However, some individual states can block entry points.
Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Ebonyi, and Abia have already used barriers to stop people entering their states.
Nigeria currently has 1095 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country, with 208 discharged and 32 deaths from the virus.
