lockdown put in place to contain the spread of the novel Coronavirus,
will not go longer than necessary as it would be ”reviewed from time to
time to ease the increasing hardships on the people”.
The President gave the assurance in his Eid-el-Fitri message to Muslims.
A statement released by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the
President on Media and Publicity today May 23, quotes the President as
saying that COVID-19, which caught the world off guard, and has put a
damper on what would otherwise have been “a time of celebration for the
Muslim faithful to mark the end of the Ramadan fasting period.” He said
he is aware of the inconveniences the lockdown and other measures put in
place to curb the spread of Coronavirus has caused Nigerians.
“I am well aware of the inconveniences these tough measures have
brought on the lives of Nigerians, including limiting religious
activities and gatherings in large numbers. No government would
intentionally impose these tough and demanding measures on its citizens
if it had a choice.”
Speaking further, the President said
”It is not easy to give up many of these important duties and
activities but it became imperative to do so in order to control or
limit the spread of this deadly disease.
Let me use this opportunity to commend the sacrifices of both Muslims
and Christians for their cooperation in the enforcement of the social
distancing guidelines.”
President Buhari
appealed to other Nigerians “whose businesses and means of livelihoods
were badly affected by the prolonged lockdown measures for their
understanding and cooperation.”
He also exhorted people with means to continue helping their
neighbors and the less well-to-do “so that we can all come out of this
pandemic stronger and more united.”
The President told the Muslim faithful that “this year’s Eid event is
an occasion for sober reflection rather than celebration because of the
long shadows of gloom that the coronavirus has cast on people’s lives.”
He prayed to Allah to ease the hardship among the people as they
struggle hard to flatten the curve, while wishing all Nigerians “Eid
Mubarak.”
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