Lagos State closes down gov’t offices for two weeks
Nigeria’s Lagos State has ordered its civil servants to stay home for the next 14 days effective, Monday, March 23, 2020.
With 30 coronavirus cases to contend with, health authorities of the country’s most populous state expect the directive to keep about 70 per cent of the state’s workforce at home, The Punch reported.
“This stay-at-home does not affect all of our first responders, meaning the medical personnel are still meant to be at their duty posts, our fire service, members of the Lagos state emergency management authority… and other essential services.”
State Governor, Jide Sanwo-Olu, who made the announcement tasked members of the public to stay away from government offices and use phone, internet channels as best as possible.
Last week, the state closed down schools—both private and public.
The state’s capital, Lagos, one of Africa’s most populous states and a major commercial hub, has been at the centre of Nigeria’s COVID-19 statistics. The country’s first (index) case, an Italian, who has recovered and discharged came through the Murtala Mohammed Airport.
On Saturday, the federal government announced the closure of the country’s international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu.
President Muhammadu Buhari issued the directive on Saturday after 10 new cases were confirmed.
Nigeria’s Minister of Health,Osagie Ehanire ,said, “All 10 new cases are Nigerian nationals; nine of them have travel history to Canada, France, Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom. They returned to the country in the past one week; the 10th case is a close contact of a previously confirmed case.”