JUST IN: FG lifts COVID-19 restrictions, midnight curfew

 

Federal Government has lifted a nationwide midnight curfew and limitations on gatherings along with other restrictions imposed in 2019  to curb the spread of coronavirus.

These restrictions were lifted after the country recorded 3,142 deaths from 255,468 cases since the start of the pandemic, according to data obtained from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

“The removal of restrictions was decided in view of the declining number of cases, reduced risk of importation of new variants as well as the availability of vaccines,” a statement issued by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 on Wednesday read.

“The nationwide curfew imposed from midnight to 04:00 am has been lifted,” it added, “advisory limiting Nigerians to essential travels only, has been lifted.”

The midnight curfew was enforced when it was first introduced, but in the capital Abuja and the main commercial city of Lagos it was mostly ignored since the beginning of last year.

“The memorandum highlighted Federal Public Institutions such as Federal Government Colleges, Federal Correctional Facilities, Federal Court Buildings and Federal secretariats where maintenance and facility management were immediately required and recommended that these should be extended to ALL buildings owned and or occupied by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government.

“Some of the expected benefits of the implementation of the approved National Policy on Public Building Maintenance are job creation for skilled and unskilled labour and the expansion of opportunities for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises who produce and supply all of the tools and materials required to support maintenance.

“Since the approval of the Policy by the federal executive council, the federal government has consciously started the implementation of maintenance in strategic facilities like the federal secretariats in Abuja, federal secretariats in 24 states of the federation, where at least 40 people are now daily employed in each of those 24 Secretariats in post rehabilitation maintenance and facility management.

“In order to ensure the fullest implementation and impact of the policy, it is my pleasure to sign this executive order that ties maintenance directly to our economy.”

The president said by the order, he expects ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to make the necessary procurement to enable them carry out their duties.

“It is my hope that this order will open the door to this treasure of opportunities for young technicians, for artisans, for vendors and suppliers and for small businesses and cottage industries,” he said.