Former Anambra State Governor, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife has warned against extending the lockdown occasioned by COVID-19.
He said that many Nigerians would die of hunger if the Federal Government extended the lockdown.
The ex-governor said any attempt to extend it may be resisted by the people, advising the government to ensure that the manufacturing, construction, banking, and some essential sectors of the economy did not grind to a halt.
Ezeife said though the two places were the most affected by the COVID-19, Lagos and Abuja may not be able to bear another extension.
“If there should be another extension, Nigerians will die. The truth is that people are tired. People would die as a result of riot that is the fact. If you consider what has been happening across the country, Lagos and Ogun states in particular, where gang robbery has become the order of the day, you will agree that a complete lockdown will not be advisable,” Daily Independent quoted him as saying.
He advised that even if a complete lockdown became expedient, some sectors must still be operational to make the COVID-19 response realistic.
According to him, a complete lockdown of the country is needless since the worst-hit states have already been identified.
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Recall that Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, also warned against an extension of the lockdown, saying it could lead to youth restiveness of an unprecedented scale.