Federal Government has lifted a nationwide midnight curfew and limitations on gatherings along with other restrictions imposed in 2019 to curb the spread of coronavirus.
This is after the country recorded 3,142 deaths from 255,468 cases since the start of the pandemic, according to data obtained from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
“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 on Wednesday read.
“The nationwide curfew imposed from midnight to 04:00 am has been lifted,” it added, “advisory limiting Nigerians to essential travels only, has been lifted.”
The midnight curfew was enforced when it was first introduced, but in the capital Abuja and the main commercial city of Lagos, it was mostly ignored since the beginning of last year.
The government said private companies should continue implementing measures to limit the spread of the virus 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”.