Nigeria is to reopen places of worship and hotels from today, Tuesday 2nd of June 2020 as most of the country begins the second phase of the easing of coronavirus restrictions.
The lockdown was imposed on 30 March in the major hubs of Lagos state, neighbouring Ogun state, and the capital, Abuja.
The country’s task force on coronavirus said that only regular religious gatherings would be allowed and worshippers should follow guidelines on preventing the spread of Covid-19 such as social distancing.
Banks and other financial institutions will also be allowed to open fully and domestic flights will resume from 21 June.
The dusk-to-dawn curfew is being relaxed and from Tuesday will start at 22:00 ending at 04:00 local time.
But schools, bars, and parks are to remain closed and gatherings of more than 20 people outside places of work or worship remain banned.
The northern state of Kano, which was put into total lockdown at the beginning of May, is to start easing its restrictions entering into “phase one”, meaning government offices, markets, and banks will operate for limited hours.
Meanwhile, the government has also asked the aviation sector to begin to develop protocols that will lead to the resumption of domestic flights any time from June 21, 2020.
The National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Sani Aliyu, stated this on Monday during a briefing Abuja.
He said, “The aviation industry is requested to start developing protocols to allow for domestic flights to resume anytime from the 21st of June onwards.
“Airlines must ensure physical distancing by reducing passenger capacity and ensure the provision of sanitisers and personal protective equipment as well as carrying out temperature checks at the point of entry and departure and ensuring that airports are not congested by either travellers or airports staff.”
Commercial flight operations, both local and international, had stopped forthwith but the President’s directive allowed the operation of essential flights including those for medical and evacuation purposes, amongst others.
On May 6, the government announced that the closure of the country’s airports and airspace were further extended by four weeks after due consultations with experts.
By Canice Opara, Lagos, Nigeria