COVID-19: CASER commends Buhari over 14 days lock down in Abuja, Lagos, Ogun

Commendation
By Aderogba George
Abuja, March 30, 2020 (NAN)The Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari, over his national broadcast on 14 days lock down in some states.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buhari in a national broadcast on March 29,  announced a 14-day lock down in states such as Ogun, Lagos and Abuja where the coronavirus pandemic is rising daily to curtail it further spread.

The Executive Director of the CSO, Mr Frank Tietie, made the commendation in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

According to Tietie, the president has powers to place a curfew, impose restriction of movement, including a lock down in line with the provision of Quarantine Act of 1929, No. 7.

He said that the Quarantine Act, CAP 384 Law of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 1990 did not mandate the president to cite any law or make any consultation before an order of lock down could be given by him.

Tietie said that the president should have cited relevant section of the quarantine law into the speech to back up his action.

He however condemned those insinuating that the president should have contacted the National Assembly before making the national broadcast of lockdown in the affected states. (NAN)
AG/MAM/GY
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Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Grace Yussuf