COVID-19 Lockdown: Buhari Grants Exemption To Banks In Lagos, Abuja, And Ogun

Some further exemptions have been granted by President Muhammadu Buhari to the lockdown order issued on Sunday night as it affects Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States.

A joint statement on Monday by the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed and Central Bank governor, Godwin Emefiele, said the President has approved the exemption of financial services operators from the lockdown.

It will be recalled that the banks and other financial service providers were not initially granted an exemption in the lockdown directive issued by the President on Sunday.

However, the joint statement issued by Ahmed and Emefiele confirmed the exemption has now been extended to them following an appeal from stakeholders.

It explained that the exemption will enable the financial services sector particularly banks render skeletal services.

The statement reads: “To ensure that Nigerians can still perform online transactions and use ATMs whilst observing these restrictions, we will like to inform the general public and all affected stakeholders that we have obtained exemptions from the President to allow very skeletal operations in the Financial System and Money Markets in order to keep the system in light operations during this time”.

The statement added that the government was mindful of the difficulties the restrictions would bring on ordinary Nigerians and are grateful to the President for approval.