By Akinwale Kasali/Femi Adetunmbi
Lagos, Nigerians commercial hub, and the fifth largest economy in Africa, was in total lockdown Tuesday, in adherence to President Muhammadu Buhari’s order.
The President had, in a broadcast on Sunday, ordered a total lockdown in Lagos and Ogun States, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
This became necessary following the outbreak of the deadly Pandemic, Coronavirus rocking the world. Nigeria, as at Tuesday, has 131 cases, two deaths and eight recoveries.
The ever busy Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Obafemi Awolowo way Ikeja, Ikorodu road, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Third Mainland Bridge, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Ajah and its environs were empty. There were no vehicular movements, and offices and shops were locked. People were in their houses.
Policemen, officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, and Military Personnel were stationed in all the nooks and crannies of the State, with their patrol vans moving around to arrest offenders or people loitering around the streets.
The adherence to the Stay at Home order has so far been respected to the letter by Lagosians on the first day.
The coming days will tell whether the 14 days lockdown will be respected to the fullest or not.