UPDATE 2-Nigeria to extend coronavirus lockdowns for 14 more days - President Buhari

* 323 confirmed cases of the virus, 10 have died
* President says lockdown is matter of life and death
* Acknowledges impact on workers relying on daily pay

(Adds information on economy, unrest and aid for the poor)
By Libby George
LAGOS, April 13 (Reuters) - Nigeria will extend lockdowns in
Lagos, Abuja and Ogun states for an additional 14 days to combat
the new coronavirus, President Muhammadu Buhari said in an
address to the nation on Monday that acknowledged the sacrifices
of the country's poor
Initial 14-day lockdowns in the three areas began on March
30. Buhari said it was crucial to extend the lockdown due to an
"alarming" increase in positive cases in a number of states.
"It is a matter of life and death," Buhari said of the
nation's response. "The repercussions of any premature end to
the lockdown action are unimaginable."
There are currently 323 confirmed cases of the virus in
Nigeria, nearly three-quarters of them in Lagos and the capital
territory of Abuja, and 10 people have died from the virus.
Nigeria, with 200 million people, is Africa's most populous
nation. Some 20 million reside in the megacity of Lagos alone.
Health experts have raised the alarm over the impact of any
spread in the virus, warning that the country's unprepared and
underfunded healthcare system could quickly become overwhelmed.
But the economic impact on the millions of Nigerians who
rely on daily wages, particularly in Lagos, has hit residents
hard. The shutdown exempts only critical workers, including
those selling food, water and medicine, but has left many
without money to buy food and other essentials. Videos have circulated on social media showing armed
robberies, fires and small riots in some Lagos neighbourhoods.
Earlier on Monday, the police said they would deploy
additional units to Lagos and Ogun to tackle unrest and crime
stemming directly from the lockdowns.
The Lagos state government has been distributing food
packages to 200,000 of the state's most vulnerable households,
and plans to double the aid.
Buhari did not address the unrest specifically, other than
saying he urged the security forces to "maintain utmost
vigilance", but he acknowledged the difficulties many people
would facing by sticking to the rules.
"We made this very difficult decision knowing fully well it
will severely disrupt your livelihoods and bring undue hardship
to you, your loved ones and your communities," he said.
"However, such sacrifices are needed to limit the spread of
COVID-19 in our country."
He said the federal government, which has also been
distributing cash and food, would add 1 million households to
the programme, which is currently targeting 2.6 million.
He also said the government would develop a comprehensive
policy to bring its economy through the crisis, and set up a
task force to minimise the impact of lockdowns on farmers and
the agricultural sector.