An overwhelming number of respondents who participated in a very Pulse Nigeria online poll, are kicking against an extension of the coronavirus-enforced lockdown imposed in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun since March 30.
On March 30, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari imposed lockdowns within the three aforementioned jurisdictions in a very bid to curb the spread of COVID-19. At the time, Nigeria had 97 confirmed cases of the virus.
On April 13, the president extended the lockdowns by another fortnight, because the number of COVID-19 figures from the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) continued to rise.
On April 13, when the president extended the lockdown, Nigeria's confirmed coronavirus tally had risen to 323, with Lagos (176) and Abuja (76) accounting for 71 percent of the overall figures.
The president will go for the cameras for an additional broadcast on April 27, because the lockdown declaration of April 13 expires, with Nigeria's confirmed coronavirus tally surpassing the one thousand mark.
As of April 26, the NCDC has reported 1273 coronavirus cases in Nigeria across 30 states, with 239 recoveries and 40 deaths.
Should Buhari extend or not?
Pulse Nigeria respondents across our social media channels, who participated in a web poll that spanned the week of April 21-26, say the president should lift the lockdown.
On Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, our question was: "Given the rising number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Nigeria, should the federally imposed lockdowns be extended?"
On Instagram, 51 percent voted No, while 49 percent voted for an extension.
On Twitter, 44 percent agreed with an extension, 22 percent advised the president against one and 34 percent chose the 'partial lockdown' option.
On Facebook, 61 percent of Pulse Nigeria readers said there should be no extension, with 39 percent asking the president to increase.
A couple of states across Nigeria have also imposed restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. Given the character of online polls, Pulse couldn't ascertain if respondents to the current poll reside in other states asides Ogun, Abuja and Lagos.
However, Lagos and Abuja account for the foremost internet penetration in Nigeria and still account for the foremost COVID-19 cases at this point.
State governors have also asked President Buhari to declare the employment of face masks compulsory within the weeks ahead.
The president are going to be addressing Nigerians on whether he would be extending federally imposed lockdowns or not, in a very few hours.
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