Lagos, The Largest City In Africa, Is On Lockdown To Stop The Spread Of COVID-19

Lagos, the largest city in Africa, went on complete lockdown on Monday at 11:00 p.m. for the next two weeks. 

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari announced the lockdown on Sunday. As of Tuesday, the country has over 130 coronavirus cases. 

Four new cases of #COVID19 have been reported in Nigeria; 3 in the FCT and 1 in Lagos

As at 08:00 pm 31st March there are 139 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria. Nine have been discharged with two deaths pic.twitter.com/d8EyMmyGIZ

— NCDC (@NCDCgov) March 31, 2020

There are about 20 million people in Lagos which serves a major hub for business on the continent. 

Although residents won’t be able to travel, cargo will still be allowed in seaports. 

Buhari said in the announcement, “We are fully aware that such measures will cause much hardship and inconvenience to many citizens, but this is a matter of life and death.”

Abuja and Ogun state are also majorly populated areas in Nigeria that are under lockdown. 

In addition to lockdown, President Buhari has suspended credit repayment for low-income farmers and for manufacturers and agribusinesses who have received funding from the government.