News:
May 5, 2020
President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, H. E. Jean-Claude Kassi Brou has directed that all Institutional offices in Abuja and Lagos should remain closed until Monday, May 4, 2020.
According to him the instruction is based on the new directive by the Federal Government of Nigeria on restriction of movement of persons in Lagos and Ogun States as well as the Federal capital.
He further directed that staff of ECOWAS Institutions in Abuja and Lagos should continue to stay at home and work from home until further notice.
And added that all should continue to follow the guidelines and advisory on COVID-19 pandemic issued by the World Health Oraganisation and Nigerian authority as ECOWAS continue to monitor the situation very closely and advise appropriately.
In an earlier statement on April 13 this year, a directive for the closure of ECOWAS offices in Abuja and Lagos was given, effective 14th to 27th of this month as a result of decisions taken by the Nigerian authority.
The President of the Commission further noted that the Extraordinary Summit on the fight against COVID-19 by Authority of Heads of States and Governments expressed concern about the spread of the disease in the sub-region and its negative social, economic, financial and human security impact on all member states.
In a televised broadcast on Monday, April 27, 2020, H. E. Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria approved a gradual easing of lockdown measures in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states from Monday May 4, 2020.
This would be followed by strict and aggressive reinforcing of testing and contact tracing measures which would allow restoration of some economic and business activities in certain sectors.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com