The House of Representatives has charged the Federal Government to immediately ban religious and other public gatherings in the country.

Lawmakers stated that there is need for the country to take a cue from Saudi Arabia and the Vatican, which has banned open religious gatherings as part of measures to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The house arrived at the decision in a motion moved by representative Zakari Chawai of Kaduna state .

Chawai, in his motion, had noted that  though government has put certain measures in place to ensure restrictions of flights from certain countries into Nigeria, it was imperative  to restrict public gatherings for now.

The lawmaker, while conmending the management of the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC)  for shutting down its orientation camps across the country, stated that there was urgent need for the government to take more proactive measures to check the virus.

The House also resolved to restrict visitors to the National Assembly forthwith,until further notice, as well as directed the management of the National Assembly to put measures in place to check the temperature of lawmakers, their staff and others, who have legitimate business within the parliament, before they are allowed access.

The Green chamber also directed the relevant government agencies to step to minimise crowding or loitering within and around airports in the country.

It urged the federal government to sign a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with the Singaporean government to produce testing kits for Nigeria.
However, the House rejected a motion calling for the closure of schools in the country for 14 days, as majority of members in voice vote rejected a proposition to that effect at plenary

However, midway into deliberations on the motion, Luke Onofiok, raised a point of order, requesting that the motion be deferred to a later date, so that members can be adequately prepared..

Regardless, the speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the matter demands urgency and as such cannot wait.
According to Gbajabiamila,”time  is of the essence. Delay can be dangerous.”