Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has warned that the gradual easing of the lockdown commencing in the State on Monday was not a license for all to flood the streets.
He said this on Sunday while giving an update on the management of COVID-19 in Lagos.
“We are not going from zero to a hundred. I would caution that we still remain at home if we truly are able to continue to work remotely and away from the office. We should only be out unless it is absolutely necessary to be out,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He confirmed that the gradual and controlled easing of the lockdown will last for six weeks, in three phases of two weeks each.
Sanwo-Olu said that the goal was to enable the State to achieve a balance between the protection of lives and the sustenance of livelihoods.
The Governor said that following each phase, the Federal and State Governments would review the situation and further adjust the response.
He restated that starting Monday, for the next two weeks, there would be a curfew across the state from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily.
According to him, all movement in and out of Lagos is prohibited, except for people carrying out essential services or transporting essential products such as agro-products, petroleum products, relief items, construction materials, and registered courier services.
He added that all public servants in the entire Lagos State Public Service were to remain at home on Monday, May 4, 2020.
Sanwo-Olu said that from Tuesday, May 5, 2020, only critical staff on Grade Levels 15 and above, and who had also been specifically adjudged as critical staff by their Accounting Officers would be expected to go to work.
“Frontline workers across all levels are, however, expected to continue working. In the same vein, all staff of the local government and local council development area offices in the state is expected to remain at home at this time, unless directed by their LGA or LCDA chairmen.
“All open markets and stores will be allowed to operate on alternate days between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Markets and stores selling food items will open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, while markets and stores selling all other items, excluding food, will open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
“Private sector companies and businesses will be permitted to operate within a limited framework. What this means is that any offices and businesses that choose to open are allowed to open only between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily, and must limit the number of staff on the business premises to no more than 60 percent of full capacity at any point in time,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu encouraged companies to operate flexible systems such as combining a work-from-home policy with shifts for staff who had to be in the office.
He urged banks to offer a full complement of services to the public, manufacturing, and construction companies to operate between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m, while such companies that had to operate outside these hours must obtain a waiver from the Lagos State Government.
According to him, eateries and restaurants will be allowed to open between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m, but only for take-out and delivery services. No in-dining services will be permitted.
“All places of worship, formal or informal, is to remain closed from any form of assemblage or congregational services, until further notice. All schools, at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, remain physically closed. Private school proprietors and parents/guardians are encouraged to have a meaningful dialogue regarding the delivery of education through various online and digital channels.
“All recreational parks, spas, salons, public gyms, swimming pools, and sporting facilities shall continue to remain closed until further notice. Hotels are to remain closed until further notice. However, those hotels being used by the state government to accommodate frontline medical personnel, as well as those hotels designated and being used as quarantine and isolation centers are wholly exempted from this directive,” he stated.
Sanwo-Olu said that commercial/commuter operations within Lagos State shall be between the hours of 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily.
“This applies only to motor vehicles. All commercial motorcycle operations in Lagos State are hereby suspended until further notice. Tricycles operating in unrestricted areas must not carry more than two passengers per trip.
“All of the above directives and restrictions I have outlined must be underlined and accompanied by the following mandatory practices of the use of face-masks everywhere in public and strict adherence to personal hygiene practices. Nose and mouth must be covered when sneezing or coughing; hands must be washed or sanitized regularly; and no handshakes or hugs.
”We are encouraging all Lagosians to be on the lookout for those who flout these orders and directives, and to report them to the Hotline, by calling or sending a text message to the following numbers: 09010513197 or 09010513198 or 09010513199,” he added.
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