The federal government has lifted the nationwide midnight curfew, limitations on gatherings as well as the restrictions set over two years ago to combat the spread of coronavirus.
According to data collected from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, the country has registered 3,142 deaths from 255,468 cases since the beginning of the pandemic.
“The removal of restrictions was decided in view of the declining number of cases, reduced risk of importation of new variants as well as the availability of vaccines,” a statement issued by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 said.
“The nationwide curfew imposed from midnight to 04:00 am has been lifted,” it read, and an “advisory limiting Nigerians to essential travels only, has been lifted.”
When it was first implemented, the midnight curfew was strictly enforced, but it has been mostly ignored in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, and Lagos, the country’s largest commercial hub since the beginning of last year.
According to the government, private businesses should continue to take steps to prevent the virus from spreading at work.
Civil servants should go back to their offices, the government added, where they are recommended to show proof of vaccination or a “PCR test of not more than 48hrs”.
