By Abubakar Sani
*In view of easing of COVID-19 lockdown as announced by the Federal Government, the FCT administration has issued the following guidlines to residents and others:
An overnight curfew will be applicable in the FCT from 8:00pm till 6:00 am with effective from Monday, 4th May 2020.
The FCTA will enforce very strictly, the ban on interstate travel.
• Wearing of face mask is compulsory for every resident of Abuja. Violators will be prosecuted by mobile courts.
• Only Civil Servants resident in the FCT on Grade level 14 and above are to report for work 3 times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between the hours of 8am and 2pm.
• All workers who are not resident in the FCT are directed to remain in their respective States of residence until the ban on interstate travel is lifted.
• All workers are to maintain safe distancing protocols of at least 2 meters and wear face masks at all times.
• Religious gatherings remain banned and places of worship remain closed.
• Temperature checks and hand sanitizing protocols should be strictly adhered to at all entry points and access to offices, banks markets, buses, taxis, etc. Violators will be prosecuted by mobile courts.
• Markets are to operate for two days only in a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays between 8:00am and 3:00pm
• Banks are to open between the hours of 8:00am and 2:00pm and are to observe temperature checks, hand sanitizing protocols as well as the use of face masks for staff and customers and also limit access by customers to allow for safe distancing reasons and limit the number of staff working on their premises to between 30% and 50%. Residents are encouraged to patronize online banking services as much as possible.
• Restaurants are not open to the public but are encouraged to adopt home delivery and take-away system.
• Pharmacies may remain open overnight.
• Companies involved in food processing, drug manufacturing and construction can commence operation, subject to the approved health and safety guidelines.
• All schools in the FCT remain closed until further notice
• All public places mentioned above should maintain all hand sanitizing, face covering and safe distancing protocols. Violators will be prosecuted by mobile courts.
Abubakar Sani is SA Media to FCT Minister