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Tag: Lockdown

  • Lockdown: Security personnel force garri price down in Asaba

    Lockdown: Security personnel force garri price down in Asaba

    Some residents of Asaba on Tuesday lauded security personnel who forced garri sellers to reduce the price of garri at Ogbeogono Market in Asaba.

    The eyewitnesses, who spoke to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba, lauded the officers for intervening in a crucial period like this.

    They said that most families could not afford to buy enough food for a day let alone cope with hike in prices of staple food items.

    They also called on the state government to work out palliatives to cushion the two weeks stay at home, particularly for those who live from “hand to mouth”.

    According to Mr Collins Ovire, some security personnel stormed the Ogbeogono Market and forced the Garri sellers to crash their prices from N2,000 to N750 for a measurement of Garri.

    “We hail them for the action because the garri sellers were just common thieves, they have hiked their prices because they know that garri is one of the staple food eaten by the people.

    “But just imagine, this is man inhumanity to man, the whole world is worried about how to combat an epidemic, the Coronavirus and in the midst of this, the market women and traders are only thinking of how to reap the poor people.

    “Just last week, a paint (gallon) of garri was sold for N600 but as soon as the stay at home order was announced, garri prices skyrocketed to N1,500 and now N2,000.

    “This hike in Garri price has affected other staples foods which have also attracted high prices.

    “Now, with this stay at home order, how will that man, who feeds on his or her daily bread, survive this two weeks stay at home order, without support from government”.

    He said that government at all levels should make funds available to all Nigerians with a Bank Verification Number (BVN) as well as procure food stuff to people.

    Also, Mrs Evelyn Chukwuma, a civil servant, said that prices of tubers of yam increased within the short notice.

    She expressed concern that the rise in prices of food items may not be reversed after the two weeks lockdown unless a drastic measure was taken by concerned authority.

    According to her, a sizable tuber of yam, which was sold few days ago for N400 in Okpanam market now sells for N500.

    “We also observed some changes in most industrial goods which I am afraid may not be reversed.

    “We also notice that those who offer services, like the television, radio, generator repairers took their turns to exploit the situation in the name of lockdown.

    “The Tri-cyclists (Keke operators) in the state capital have complied with the government order to carry only two passengers but they also double their fares.

    “Ordinarily, one would have reasoned that the fare would have remain the same since the Federal Government has reduced the petrol pump price from N145 to N125 pee liter.

    “We are worried because it seems this stay at home order is coming to negatively impact the poor and the vulnerable people in the society, this is why we are asking the government to do something to ameliorate the pains that would be associate with the compulsory quarantine.”

    NAN reports that the Delta State Government announced a Stay -at-Home order with effect from Wednesday, April 1, and will last for two weeks.

    Residents were seen making last minute purchases in preparations for the deadline as markets and malls have been charged to lock up.

  • Stock Market Loses N277bn as Investors Prepare for Lockdown

    Investors at the nation’s stock market lost N277 billion on Monday as some of them in Lagos and Abuja get ready for the total lockdown from Tuesday as announced by President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday in his nationwide broadcast.

    The two major cities would be under lock and key for 14 days and if the reason for the action, coronavirus diseases (COVID-19) remains undefeated, the stay-at-home order might be extended by the federal government.

    But in order not to be trapped financially, some traders quickly sold off some stocks in their portfolios and the banking sector was the most hit.

    The banking index lost 3.62 percent, the consumer goods sector declined by 0.92 percent, while the insurance counter fell by 0.52 percent. However, the oil/gas index appreciated by 1.77 percent, while the industrial goods sector slightly improved by 0.01 percent.

    During the trading session, more stocks were traded by investor, causing the trading volume to rise by 85.71 percent to 466.9 million from 251.4 million.

    However, the total value of these transactions went down by 42.43 percent to N1.9 billion from N3.4 billion, while the number of deals fell by 7.79 percent to 3,659 from 3,968.

    Much of these trades were from Meyer, which recorded the sale of 201.0 million units of its stocks worth N92.5 million, while Champion Breweries traded 89.3 million shares for N61.7 million.

    Zenith Bank transacted 48.2 million equities worth N574.4 million, UBA exchanged 19.2 million stocks valued at N98.8 million, while FNB Holdings sold 18.8 million shares for N75.2 million.

    The market breadth close negative yesterday after recording 15 price decliners as against 11 price risers led by Mobil Nigeria, which added N14.40 to its share price to close at N160.90 per unit.

    Cadbury Nigeria gained 60 kobo to trade at N6.80 per share, Berger Paints appreciated by 60 kobo to quote at N6.70 per unit, Africa Prudential garnered 28 kobo to sell at N3.70 per share, while GlaxoSmithKline grew by 15 kobo to N4 per unit.

    However, it was not a good day for MTN Nigeria as the company’s stock lost N10 to finish at N90 per share, while Zenith Bank followed by losing 65 kobo to trade at N11.95 per unit.

    GTBank depreciated by 55 kobo to N17.90 per share, International Breweries lost 50 kobo to quote at N4.90 per share, while Access Bank fell by 35 kobo to sell at N6.05 per unit.

    By the time the market closed for business yesterday, the All-Share Index (ASI) of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) reduced by 530.99 points to 21,330.79 points from 21,861.78 points, while the market capitalisation decreased by N277 billion to N11.117 trillion from N11.393 trillion.

  • Covid-19: Falana condemns FG for deploying soldiers to enforce lockdown

    Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, says it is illegal to deploy soldiers during the lockdown over coronavirus.

    In a national broadcast on Sunday, President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered a lockdown of Ogun, Abuja and Lagos from 11pm on Monday.

    There had been criticisms over Buhari’s decision to restrict movement in those areas because, according to some lawyers, there was no legal backing.

    But the president later signed quarantine regulations on lockdown. Femi Adesina, his spokesman, said the regulations, effective March 30, 2020, “gave legal backing to the various measures outlined in the President’s National Broadcast on March 29, 2020, such as Restriction/Cessation of Movement in Lagos, FCT and Ogun State and others toward containing the spread of the pandemic in the country”.

    In a statement, Falana said while the president has the powers to adopt any measures to tackle COVID-19 pandemic, the plan to deploy troops should be reconsidered.

    “Following the national broadcast of President Buhari on the COVID-19 pandemic, some lawyers have questioned the constitutional validity of the restriction of locomotion of people in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states. No doubt, the President is empowered to adopt any measures deemed fit to combat the dangerous disease but such measures have to be spelt out in a Regulation made pursuant to section 305 of the Constitution or under the Quarantine Act. Otherwise the presidential order on restriction of movement in the affected areas cannot be enforced by the police,” he said.

    “However, while the nation’s armed forces should be commended for making their medical facilities available to members of the public in the fight against the highly dangerous virus the plan to dispatch armed soldiers to the streets to enforce the COVID-19 guidelines should be shelved because it is illegal.

    “For the umpteenth time, I am compelled to draw the attention of the military authorities to the case of Yussuf v Obasanjo (2005) 18 NWLR (Pt ) where Salami JCA (as he then was) held that “It is up to the police to protect our nascent democracy and not the military, otherwise the democracy might be wittingly or unwittingly militarized. This is not what the citizenry bargained for in wrestling power from the military in 1999. Conscious steps should be taken to civilianise the polity and thereby ensure the survival of and sustenance of democracy.”

    Falana advised the military to focus more on the war against insurgency in the north-east while the police and allied security agencies should be allowed to enforce the COVID-19 regulations and guidelines.

  • COVID-19: Financial System, Money Markets to do Skeletal Operations during lockdown – FG

    COVID-19: Financial System, Money Markets to do Skeletal Operations during lockdown – FG

    Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, said President Muhammadu Buhari has agreed to allow very skeletal operations in the financial system and money markets in order to keep the system in light operations during the coronavirus pandemic.

    This approval to exempt the financial system and money markets came after President Buhari announced on Sunday night during a nationwide broadcast that movements in Lagos, Ogun States and Abuja would be restricted for 2 weeks. Lagos remains the financial hub of Nigeria.

    In a notice on Monday, the Minister said efforts were made to secure the exemption for the sectors to ensure that Nigerians can still perform online transactions and use ATMs whilst observing these restrictions.

    “In light of the devastating effects of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) on many countries around the world, we applaud and appreciate the appropriate and proactive restrictions in personal and vehicular movement directed by President Muhammadu Buhari in his speech of Sunday 29 March 2020.

    “These restrictions are critical to significantly reduce the transmission rate of the disease and make it much easier for health professional to trace, test and isolate patients.

    “To ensure that Nigerians can still perform online transactions and use ATMs whilst observing these restrictions, we will like to inform the general public and all affected stakeholders that we have obtained exemptions from the President to allow very skeletal operations in the Financial System and Money Markets in order to keep the system in light operations during this time,” the statement said.

    The Minister said, “To this end, all relevant staff of affected outfits and agencies should look out for further instructions from their immediate bosses. We are mindful of the difficulties these restrictions would bring on ordinary Nigerians and are grateful to the President for approving these exemptions, which should help ease some of these burdens.”

    “We urge all Nigerians to be patient, cooperative and united as all hands are on deck to defeat this virus,” the Minister said in the statement jointly signed by Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele.

  • COVID-19: Soyinka challenges Buhari over lockdown of Lagos, Ogun States

    Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka on Monday described the total lockdown of Lagos and Ogun States by President Muhammadu Buhari over coronavirus as illegal and unconstitutional.

    Soyinka, in a statement said the president did not have the power to unilaterally lockdown a state, as there was no war or emergency.

    The Nobel laureate, in the statement titled: Between COVID and Constitutional Encroachment,” said constitutional lawyers and our elected representatives should kindly step into “this and educate us, mere lay minds. The worst development I can conceive us is to have a situation where rational measures for the containment of the Corona pandemic are rejected on account of their questionable genesis.

    “This is a time for Unity of Purpose, not nitpicking dissensions. So, before this becomes a habit, a question: does President Buhari have the powers to close down state borders? We want clear answers. We are not in a war emergency.

    “Appropriately focussed on measures for the saving lives, and committed to making sacrifices for the preservation of our communities, we should nonetheless remain alert to any encroachment on constitutionally demarcated powers. We need to exercise collective vigilance, and not compromise the future by submitting to interventions that are not backed by law and constitution.”

    According to Soyinka, a president who had been conspicuously AWOL, the Rip van Winkle of Nigerian history, was now alleged to have woken up after a prolonged siesta, and begun to issue orders.

    He asked: “Who actually instigates these orders anyway? From where do they really emerge? What happens when the orders conflict with state measures, the product of a systematic containment strategy – `including even trial-and-error and hiccups – undertaken without let or leave of the Centre. So far, the anti-COVID-19 measures have proceeded along the rails of decentralised thinking, multilateral collaboration and technical exchanges between states.

    “The Centre is obviously part of the entire process, and one expects this to be the norm, even without the epidemic’s frontal assault on the Presidency itself. Indeed, the Centre is expected to drive the overall effort, but in collaboration, with extraordinary budgeting and refurbishing of facilities.

    “The universal imperative and urgency of this affliction should not become an opportunistic launch pad for a sneak RE-CENTRALISATION, no matter how seemingly insignificant its appearance. I urge governors and legislators to be especially watchful. No epidemic is ever cured with constitutional piracy. It only lays down new political viruses for the future.”

  • COVID-19: Inflation hits prices of food commodities in FCT

    Prices of food items have shut-up in some parts of the Federal Capital Territory due to the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the globe in recent times.

    A market survey conducted at Lugbe, a satellite town in Abuja, on Monday by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) indicated an upsurge in prices of many staple foods.

    Mr Abel Ikechukwu, who sells bags of rice, told NAN that the COVID-19 pandemic had really impacted on the price of rice in the FCT.

    According to Ikechukwu, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a bag of locally produced rice was selling at N14,500 and is now N19,500.

    He said the price of imported rice, previously selling between N22,000 and N23,000 now sells at N30,500.

    He further said that with the government’s lockdown order, prices of food commodities would continue to rise.

    Mrs Chioma Peters, a garri dealer, corroborated Ikechukwu’s view, saying COVID-19 scare was largely responsible for hike in the prices of food items in markets.

    Peters said that the price of a bag of garri (fried cassava flour), hitherto selling for N13,000, now sells at N16,000.

    She said that it was quite pathetic and that if the situation escalated or became prolonged, there could be untold hardship and hunger in the land.

    Isah Kabiru, who sells beans, said the COVID-19 pandemic had brought hardship to the common man “as food items witnessed a price increase’’.

    Kabiru said that a bag of beans, which previously sold at N16,500 now costs N18,000.

    Mr Isaiah Nkereuwem, a resident of Lugbe community, said the price of everything had gone up.

    “Even a bag of sachet water that we normally buy at N100 is now selling at between N120 and N150, depending on the brand,’’ Nkereuwem said.

    He also said that people who hawked water in trolleys had increased their prices.

    “As at this morning, I bought four containers of 25 litres at the rate of N200 as against the normal N100,’’ Nkereuwem said.

  • Italy’s Coronavirus death toll exceeds 10,000 despite lockdown

    Italy’s Coronavirus death toll exceeds 10,000 despite lockdown

    The coronavirus toll in Italy shot past 10,000 on Saturday and showed little sign of slowing despite a 16-day lockdown.

    The 889 new fatalities reported in the world’s worst-hit nation came a day after it registered 969 deaths on Friday — the highest single toll since the COVID-19 virus emerged late last year.

    Italy now looks certain to extend its economically debilitating — and emotionally stressful — business closures and the ban on public gatherings past their April 3 deadline.

    “Is it time to reopen the country? I think we have to think about it really carefully,” civil protection service chief Angelo Borrelli told reporters.

    “The country is at a standstill and we must maintain the least amount of activity possible to ensure the survival of all.”

    Italians had begun to hope that their worst disaster in generations was easing after the increase in daily death rates began to slow on March 22.

    But the new surge has changed the Mediterranean nation’s mood.

    Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte told Italians late Saturday to be ready to spend more time cooped up at home.

    “If one is being reasonable, one cannot envision a quick return to normal life,” Conte said in his latest sombre television address.

    – Going into debt –
    The monumental economic toll of fighting the pandemic has triggered a huge row among European leaders about how best to respond.

    The southern European nations worst-hit by the virus are urging the EU to go abandon its budget rules.

    The bloc has already loosened its purse strings in ways not seen since the 2008-2009 global financial crisis.

    But Conte argues that this is not enough.

    France is backing a push by Italy and Spain for the EU to start issuing “corona bonds” — a form of common debt that governments sell to raise money to address individual economic needs.

    More spendthrift nations such as Germany and the Netherlands are baulking at the idea of joint debt.

    Conte said he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had “not just a disagreement but a hard a frank confrontation” this week about how to proceed.

    “If Europe does not rise to this unprecedented challenge, the whole European structure loses its raison d’etre to the people,” Conte told Saturday’s edition of the Il Sole 24 Ore financial newspaper.

  • COVID-19: Edo announces total lockdown today

    Edo State Government says it will begin a lockdown of the state by enforcing stay at home order from Friday, to check the spread of coronavirus in the state.

    The state Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, disclosed this Thursday evening, while briefing journalists on activities of the technical committee set up to monitor the spread of the disease.

    He noted that civil servants who were asked to stay at home are moving about in the state.

    He said: “We went round the city, we have discovered that there is partial view compliance with government directive on lockdown and we are reiterating that only those on essential duty are allowed to move about within the state.

    “All shops and markets that are not selling food should remain locked and by tomorrow, we have asked the law enforcement agencies to enforce this government directive of all of us sitting down at home and not moving around.

    “We have also discovered that most of the civil servants and workers that were asked to stay at home are moving about.

    “That was not the intention. The intention is that they stay at home, and staying at home will help us to reduce the spread of coronavirus. Please and please, we need you to stay at home, unless there is a serious emergency.

    “We are presently contact-tracing 111 persons, and you staying at home will help us to reduce this number.”

    The Deputy Governor said that in line with international best practice, enforcement of seating guidelines in public buses will begin on Friday.

    “By tomorrow (Friday), government and law enforcement agencies will be on the streets to enforce these seating guidelines for all our transport vehicles.

    “The seating arrangement for cars is: one passenger in front and two at the back. For buses, the rule is:one passenger in front and two in each role.

    “All transporters are mandated to ensure correct information on manifest. Manifest must be made available to government on daily basis,” Shaibu said.

  • Covid-19: Lagos to flood streets with military, police from tomorrow to keep nonessential people off streets

    Following a virtual meeting held between Lagos State Government, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Nigeria Employers Consultative Assembly (NECA) on Wednesday, a resolution to engage the Nigeria Army and police was reached to ensure compliance of a partial lockdown in Lagos.

    According to reports, the said meeting held in Lagos between 11am – 1.00pm , 25th March 2020, on COVID -19 Update.

    Below are the highlights of the Sanwo-Olu’s response based on the issues and challenges companies raised;

    · NECA (FMCG & Pharmaceutical companies) – about 24 participants including PZCN represented by Kayode and myself; Others are Nestle, Unilever, Nigeria Breweries, Frischland, Promascido, Flourmill, Honeywell Flourmill, Spar, Niemeth Pharmacy, Shoprite, Cadbury, Emzor Pharmaceuticals, etc.

    · NB PLC provided IT facility to enable the meeting.

    · Lagos will not be on complete lockdown but slow down. Intention is to take non essentials out of the street.

    · There will be increased military presence (army, police, navy, air force and other para military organisations) as from tomorrow on the road to ensure compliance.

    · Security – the police & military will be well briefed to be cautious with citizens to avoid untoward incidents. Government will over index on security.

    · FMCGs are essential goods classified as daily need products, foods and drugs, beverages, health and hygiene products, medicaments, etc.

    · Employees of these companies must carry their IDs to and from work to ensure easy identification and smooth passage.

    · All Food markets shall remain open.

    · The retail chains – Spar, Game, Shoprite etc. shall remain open daily. People should not panic buy. Government will ensure that supplies are kept flowing.

    · Government will open additional 50 – 60 emergency markets in school premises that will be allocated to FMCG companies to go in and erect stands to sell their essential goods for people who cannot go to Spar and Shoprite to go and buy their daily needs.

    · Electronics markets, shops, spare parts markets, clothes markets and all classified as non-essentials shall be closed down.

    · Transport for intra city commuting shall be allowed to operate, especially Lagos State Transport Buses.

    · Trucks carrying inbound supplies or outbound products of FMCG companies will be allowed to operate to ensure supplies continuity of essential products. These trucks must have means of identification to enable law enforcement identify them easily. To this end, we will get our transport to make cardboard with PZCN logo for easy identification.

    · Intercity and Interstate supplies are a challenge outside Lagos because most states governments have imposed no entry into their state especially from Lagos. The Governor promised to put a call immediately after the meeting to Chairman of Governors forum of the federation who is governor of nearby Ekiti State (Gov Fayemi) for him to use his office and prevail on all state governments to co-operate and allow SC trucks of FMCG companies delivering essential raw materials and products supplies free passage into and through the states of the federation to ensure supply continuity. How fast and far this will happen remains to be seen. We will monitor deliveries across the countries and update.

    · Garbage clearance off the streets and road by LAWMA – Lagos State Waste Management Authority- shall work all through to remove filth.

    · Government will reach out to Airport and Sea Ports operators (NAHCO; APMT, Maersk etc. ) to get them prioritise FMCG materials clearing over others during this period.

    · Tax incentives and reliefs (breaks) to companies and citizens due to increased cost during this crisis times. Governor mentioned that it is being considered by the State Government.

    · ISOLATION Centres – Government is setting up centres across the state in Yaba, Onikan, Lekki, Gbagada. Target is to achieve 2000 bed capacity by end March.

    · TESTING Centres – Government is setting up 3 testing centres with capacity to test 100 people per day. 2 already functioning and the third is WIP.

    · To conclude Governor released key contacts to NECA members for quick access to key commissioners including Commissioner of Police and his ADC.

    · The NECA forum with Governor shall remain a standing forum for crisis management. Will be meeting once or twice weekly as the case may arise. Members will be notified accordingly.

  • COVID-19: Six things countries must do to successfully tackle pandemic during lockdown – WHO

    Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General, has urged countries that had introduced “lockdown” measures to use this time to attack Coronavirus (COVID-19).

    Ghebreyesus gave the advice in a speech read at a news conference in Geneva, posted on the agency’s website.

    The director-general said that no fewer than 16,000 lives had been lost to the virus.

    “We know we will lose more – how many more will be determined by the decisions we make and the actions we take now.

    “To slow the spread of COVID-19, many countries have introduced unprecedented measures, at a significant social and economic cost. They have closed schools and businesses, cancelled sporting events and asked people to stay home and stay safe.

    “We understand that these countries are now trying to assess when and how they will be able to ease these measures.

    “The answer depends on what countries do while these population-wide measures are in place.

    “Asking people to stay at home and shutting down population movement is buying time and reducing the pressure on health systems.

    “But on their own, these measures will not extinguish epidemics. The point of these actions is to enable the more precise and targeted measures that are needed to stop transmission and save lives,’’ he said.

    Ghebreyesus further advised countries that had adopted “lockdown” measures to take some actions to attack the virus.

    According to him, the countries have created a second window of opportunity, but “the question is, how will you use it?

    “There are six key actions that we recommend. First, expand, train and deploy your health care and public health workforce.

    “Second, implement a system to find every suspected case at the community level; third, ramp up the production, capacity and availability of testing.

    “Fourth, identify, adapt and equip facilities you will use to treat and isolate patients; fifth, develop a clear plan and process to quarantine contacts;

    “And sixth, refocus the whole of government on suppressing and controlling the Coronavirus.’’

    He said the measures were the best way to suppress and stop transmission so that when restrictions are lifted, the virus doesn’t resurge.

    “The last thing any country needs is to open schools and businesses, only to be forced to close them again because of a resurgence.

    “Aggressive measures to find, isolate, test, treat and trace are not only the best and fastest way out of extreme social and economic restrictions – they are also the best way to prevent them.

    “More than 150 countries and territories still have fewer than 100 cases.’’