COVID-19: Lagos shuts down all tertiary institutions indefinitely

Olabisi Deji-Folutile

Lagos State government has shut down with immediate effect all tertiary institutions in the state. The State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, gave the order to shut down the institutions on Friday during a live broadcast on the Corona Virus update in the state.

The governor, who is the Incident Commander on the Corona Virus, also announced the proscription of large assemblage of people in any form to halt the spread of the disease.

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Sanwo-Olu explained that it was a trying period for leaders and citizens all over the world, noting that the virus had impacted every part of the globe negatively, with a heavy toll on human beings and the global economy.

He said: ‘’the impact has been enormous, on households, healthcare systems, global supply chains, and the global economy.
On February 27, 2020, Nigeria recorded its first case of the COVID-19 disease, an Italian who landed in Lagos from Istanbul. Since then, the number of confirmed cases in Nigeria has risen to 12, so far.’’

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Governor Sanwo-Olu said it was not surprising that Lagos, being the most populous State in the country, had been the epicentre of the outbreak. He however assured that the government was ready to combat the virus, saying that the state was fully prepared weeks ahead of the first reported case in the country.

‘’We are also extremely prepared and capable of containing the threat that the Corona virus represents. Our bio-secure isolation facility at the Mainland Infectious Diseases Hospital, Yaba is equipped and able to contain the disease.’’

‘’As the Chief Incident Commander of Lagos State, it is my duty to update you regularly on this disease, and on the steps we are taking in Lagos State to fight it, working in close collaboration with the Federal Government and other partners, including the private sector.’’

Governor Sanwo-Olu said there were 11 confirmed cases in the State with eight among them under isolation and on admission in the bio security facility in Yaba.

The governor also announced that the index case had tested negative, and would be discharged soon.

Sanwo-Olu said the rapid spread of the pandemic necessitated the immediate suspension of all gatherings of more than 50 persons as well as closure of all public and private schools in the state with effect from Monday, March 23, 2020.

‘’You will all agree with me that these times call for us all to act responsibly and abstain from all large outings or gatherings of any kind, be they academic, family, professional, political, religious or social.’’

‘’In South Korea, and Singapore, the disease spread largely through organised religious gatherings. The issue is of course not religion, but that the virus can spread through any large assemblage of people or gathering.

‘’To protect and save lives, law enforcement agencies, especially the Police, have been directed to enforce compliance with the directive against any assemblage of a large number of people at any location.’’

The Governor urged Lagosians to support the government in its effort to defeat the scourge, pledging that an economic stimulus would be announced after the State Executive Council meeting next week.
“’The Central Bank of Nigeria has announced a stimulus package that will open up new credit lines to the businesses and sectors most affected by the Corona virus. We expect that Lagos State, as the economic hub of Nigeria, will benefit significantly from these interventions.’’

The Governor warned the residents against spreading of fake news and misinformation about the disease.