* Let economic activities go on – NLC

* It’s dangerous to allow people move around – Doctors

* Talks on reopening economy ongoing – FG

* Experts chart way forward

* Business owners fear economy may collapse

As the lockdown declared by the federal government in Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to curb the spread of COVID-19 expires today, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and experts have expressed fears of negative impact of the stay-at-home on the citizens and the economy if extended. Daily Trust reports that besides the federal government, many of the 36 states of the federation have also declared complete or partial lockdown amid complaints by citizens and businessmen on the terrible impact on their wellbeing and businesses.

On their part, medical experts insisted that the federal and state governments should maintain the tempo of restricting movements so as not to jeopardise the gains recorded so far. Virtually all economic activities including services and manufacturing have been grounded, not only in Nigeria but across the globe as the attention of world leaders’ shift to how to contain the coronavirus from spreading further. Some of those spoken to yesterday, including economists, industrialists, bankers and investment experts, said they were conscious of the dangers that might come when the country is let lose, and people allowed to flout social distancing and other measures. They, however, said there was the need to kick-start the economy as obtained in other countries but with measures that will compel citizens to observe the rules.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said there was the need “to relax the total lockdown so that some economic activities can go on.” He said, “If you look at the situation around the world, it is clear that what is needed to be reinforced is the issue of preventive measures. “We have goods imported at the ports and the distribution has become a problem despite the fact that the port authority said that people should go and take their goods.

But if there is lockdown, how can you take your goods?” he asked. He said that the lockdown extension would lead to shortage of essentials including medical items. “I have seen many countries relaxing the curfew because lockdown cannot be perpetual. And what we have said is that many people are hungry and there is no way of getting means of livelihood; we don’t want a situation where people will then take laws into their hands,” he said.

When contacted yesterday, the spokesperson for the Vice President, Laolu Akande, said the reaction of Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mr. Clement Agba, was enough to address the concern over the pressure to re-open the economy. Agba, who spoke last Thursday after the fourth meeting of the Economic Sustainability Committee (ESC) chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, had revealed that talks on reopening the economy for business and related activities had begun as the country prepares for a post COVID-19 era.

A medical practitioner, Dr. Abdullahi Aminu, said the federal government should not allow free movement in the coming weeks to avoid escalating the spread of COVID-19. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) also said that relaxing the lockdown would lead to rise in the number of cases recorded across the country. NMA President, Dr. Francis Adedayo Faduyile, said, “I am not an economist, so I may not be able to properly advise on that.

But with the rising figures of recent, it is not the time to ease the lockdown.” Dr. Fatima Damagum said restricting movement of people to prevent the spread of disease is not a new phenomenon. “Indeed, it has been used for thousands of years,” she said, but advised relevant stakeholders to provide necessities of life for the people.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/as-covid-19-lockdown-ends-today-pressure-mounts-on-buhari-to-relax-restrictions.html

A very tough decision to take by the president.
Many options lies in his hand.
Anyway, fingers crossed ahead of the president's decision.

Classic tale of "between the devil and the blue sea" ...
at this stage, extending or relaxing the lock down would both have their perks and their risks...whichever way it swings, it is well!

* Let economic activities go on – NLC

* It’s dangerous to allow people move around – Doctors

* Talks on reopening economy ongoing – FG

* Business owners fear economy may collapse

Nothing more confusing than this... Those in power always scramble to tackle issues that are not complicated like this not talk of this.

Sorry Indifference

It's really a precarious situation for Nigeria. Ppl can't stay locked up and ppl can't b allowed to get back to their normal routine especially with Nigeria still testing far less than it should b doing.. Either way we are screwed

The decision is simple....

Lagos is no different from New York... same pattern, same way of life but just different ideology of governance, still on total lockdown with efficient palliatives but despite that, almost 300,000 infected and an average of 300 deaths/day.. now imagine Lagos in a 3rd world country without as little as 10% the kind of organisation New York has..

Nigerians will wish they elected sane people.