FG lists businesses that can reopen May 4 with new guidelines

FG through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 read out the new guidelines for the ease of the lockdown.

This applies to Lagos, Ogun, and Abuja and will commence next week Monday, May 4, 2020.

Briefing newsmen on the guidelines for ease of the lockdown is the National Coordinator of the PTF, Sani Aliyu.

He said interstate travels still remain on lockdown except for the movement of essential services. Banks are to open between 8:00 am to 2:00 pm while adhering to the prevention guidelines.

Schools and restaurants are not to open but home deliveries for restaurants can resume. Concerts, cinemas, and leisure centers are to remain how they have been these past one month.

Sani’s statement reads:

”For government offices, government staff will be allowed to resume from the 4 of May but it will be based on specific grade levels and specific days so that we can reduce the amount of congestion that we might have in our government offices and we will be discussing further with state governments to make sure that we have a common approach to this.

Banks will be allowed to open but there will be a restriction in the opening hours to between 8am to 2pm and together with all the other preventive measures I have already mentioned.

In addition to this, from the point of agriculture and rural development, companies involved in food processing can commence operation. In construction sites, critical road will be allowed but waivers will be provided by state governments to enable movement.

For the manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries, we will encourage shift work and limiting staff to only 30 to 50 percent to maintain social distancing, and pharmacy shops may remain open overnight.” He concluded.

Also addressing the media is the chairman of the PTF, Boss Mustapha. He said the management of various offices is to fumigate and decontaminate their offices before they resume operations.

He said that the management should make arrangements for the physical distancing of their staff while at work. And finally, they should ensure all staff use face mask and hand sanitizer.