The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has directed federal workers residing outside Abuja to remain in their respective states of residence pending the lifting of ban on interstate travel.
The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, gave the directive in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Anthony Ogunleye, on Saturday in Abuja.
He said the FCTA would enforce rigorously the guidelines regulating the easing of the lockdown in the FCT as part of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the territory.
The partial easing of the lockdown commenced on Monday, May 4.
Bello noted that security agencies had been mandated to arrest and prosecute, through mobile courts, anyone found contravening the guidelines.
He also stressed that the FCTA would enforce the overnight curfew from 8p.m. to 6a.m. as ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari in his nationwide broadcast on Monday, April 27.
The FCT minister said effective Monday, May 4, 2020, all civil servants on Grade level 14 and above should report for work three time in a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between the hours of 8a.m. and 2p.m.
He, however, said that all officers on essential duties were to carry on with their assigned responsibilities.
Bello enjoined all workers to maintain safe distancing protocols of at least two meters and wear facemasks at all times.
He said that markets would operate for two days in a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays between 8a.m. and 3p.m.
Bello assured that neighbourhood selling points would be established in various parts of the city to decongest major markets.
The statement further read: “Wearing of facemask is mandatory to gain access to markets in addition to hand washing and sanitizing protocols.
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“The above hygiene related protocols are also applicable to supermarkets and neighborhood markets.
“Banks are to open between the hours of 8a.m. and 2p.m. and are to observe temperature checks, hand sanitising protocols as well as the use of face masks for staff and customers.
“Banks are to limit access by customers to allow for safe distancing reasons and limit the number of staff working on their premises to between 30 per cent and 50 per cent.
“Residents are encouraged to patronise online banking services as much as possible.
“Extant rules regulating restaurants and eateries remain in effect. Restaurants are not open to the public and are encouraged to adopt home delivery services.
“The extant directive on places of worship still subsists and they remain closed.”
The Minister reiterated that prohibition of commercial motorcycles within the city centre remained in force including Kubwa and Dutse Alhaji while tricycles were to limit their activities to areas already designated and should carry a maximum of three persons (driver and two passengers).
Taxis, according to the statement should also carry a maximum of four persons at a time (driver and three persons).
He also said that all schools in the FCT will remain closed until further notice, adding that schools were not permitted to commence third term session in any form until directed otherwise by the relevant authorities.
He, however, said that schools were encouraged to continue with e-learning and virtual teachings.
“Residents are once more reminded that COVID-19 can be fatal and all are hereby advised to take all prescribed measures to avoid contracting it,” the Minister said.
