Nigerians in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Lagos and Ogun States wait anxiously for what President Muhammadu Buhari would do or say today as the second lockdown formally ends.
This comes on the heels of the visit, on Sunday, by the Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, and the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, to the State House, Abuja, where they briefed the President Buhari on the progress made and problems encountered so far in Nigeria’s efforts to curtail the spread of COVID-19.
Although many states have enforced one form of lockdown or another, Lagos, Ogun and the FCT have been shut down for four weeks. The four weeks have been been a mixed bag for many citizens who have had to endure slipshod distribution of palliatives, insecurity and continuous spike in the prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to statistics released by the NCDC, on Sunday, Nigeria had 91 new cases, bringing the national total to 1,273. So far, 40 deaths have been recorded and 239 discharged.
Despite valid fears and grim reality that the figures will climb, opinions are divided as to whether President Buhari should extend the lockdown order on Lagos, Ogun and the FCT, today, or suspend it.
There are also those who believe that the mandatory lockdown is necessary to avert a catastrophic explosion in prevalence of the pandemic, others feel an extension may have dire security implications.
Those in the middle want the President to weigh the options very well and take a decision in the best interest of Nigerians. Yet another group want Buhari to allow a window to restock if he must extend the order.