A statement today, April 15, by the spokesman of the FCT Administration, Anthony Ogunleye, said that decision was taken after the FCT coronavirus security committee, headed by the minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, discovered that many people, especially in satellite towns, were violating the lockdown procedures.
The statement said that while the level of compliance has been satisfactory at the Federal Capital City (FCC) over the first few days of the lockdown, the same cannot be said about the satellite towns located at the various area councils where residents there have largely ignored the lockdown directive.
It said that over the past few days, adherence to the lockdown directives at the City Center has also deteriorated, adding that residents have used the excuse of going to the markets to flout the lockdown directives and traders selling non-essential food commodities have also used this window to open their shops in clear violation of the directives not to do so;
“Despite the directives that residents should patronize neighborhood shops and markets within their districts and not move from one district to the other to buy their essential items in order to minimize movement of people and vehicles across the city, this has largely been flouted as well.
The statement directed that in the new dispensation, market operational days are henceforth reduced to two days in a week namely Wednesdays and Saturdays only;
It advised residents to patronize only neighborhood markets as movement from one district to the other now constitutes a violation of the lockdown.
The statement said that commercial motorcyclists have been banned from operating anywhere in Kubwa and Dutse Alhaji during the lockdown;
“The FCTA will step up sensitization efforts especially in the rural communities and enjoins Area Council, Chairmen, traditional rulers and community leaders to actively engage in sensitizing the populace on the dangers of COVID -19;
“The FCT Administration remains deeply committed to ensuring that the COVID-19 pandemic remains controlled in the FCT and seeks the cooperation of all residents in curtailing its spread especially into our rural and suburban communities.”
