COVID-19: Nigerians in anxious wait as Buhari decides on lockdown extension Monday evening

By 8pm tonight, Nigerians would know if there will be an extension to the lockdown or not.

President Buhari is scheduled to address the nation and being a man of few words, the broadcast may be over by 7.15pm.

The president is widely expected to extend the lockdown he announced on Sunday, March 29.

On that day, Nigeria had only 111 COVID-19 cases. As at Monday afternoon, there were officially 323 cases in 20 states. 

Buhari gave the clearest hint there would be more days last Saturday.

In a statement, the President said: “the freedom we ask you to willingly forsake today will only last as long as our scientific advisers declare they are necessary.”

In the last 14 days, Nigerians have faced job losses, an increase in crime rate and inflation in prices of essential commodities.

It remains to be seen what decision Buhari takes on Monday, as the battle against coronavirus continues.