By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Barring any last minute change, President Muhammadu Buhari, will today at 8 pm make a nationwide broadcast in respect of the COVID-19 lockdown.
This will be his third national broadcast since the virus gained foothold in Nigeria.
According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, “President Muhammadu Buhari will address the nation Monday, April 27, 2020 at 8pm.
“Television, radio and other electronic media stations are enjoined to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) respectively for the broadcast.”
Recall that on April 13, President Muhammadu Buhari in his second broadcast to the nation on COVID-19 pandemic, ordered another total lockdown particularly in Lagos State, Ogun State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to checkmate the spread of coronavirus pandemic ravaging the entire globe.
In the broadcast, Buhari directed Nigerians to stay-at-home for another period of 14 days with effect from 11.59 pm April 14, and thereafter, the achievement recorded on the control of the deadly coronavirus will determine whether the stay-at-home period would be extended or not.
The 14 days period will expire Tuesday (tomorrow) April 28 and Nigerians are very much anxious to know what Mr President will tell them in his broadcast today.
Already Nigerians are complaining. The total lockdown has made life unbearable for them.The lockdown has spurred a lot of criminal activities in various States and cost of foodstuffs, medicines and other essential needs of human beings has skyrocketed.
The palliatives by the government to Nigerians to cushion the effects of the stay-at-home directive is not effective as several Nigerians are not getting any money or items.
