UPDATE 2-Nigeria orders 14-day cessation of movement in Lagos, Abuja to fight coronavirus

* Nigeria has 97 coronavirus cases, 1 death
* Movement to cease in Lagos, Abuja, Ogun
* Restrictions initially to last 14 days
* Nigeria is Africa's most populous country

(Adds details, quotes, background)
By Alexis Akwagyiram
LAGOS, March 29 (Reuters) - Nigerian President Muhammadu
Buhari on Sunday ordered the cessation of movement in Lagos and
the capital Abuja for 14 days in an attempt to curb the spread
of the coronavirus.
Nigeria has 97 confirmed cases, most of which have been in
its two main cities. Buhari said the restrictions would begin at
11 p.m. (2200 GMT) on Monday, March 30. He said the measures
would also apply to Ogun State, which neighbours Lagos State.
Health experts are concerned about the potential for a
widespread outbreak in a country which has around 200 million
inhabitants and a poor public health system.
The president's televised speech marked his first major
address to the nation since Nigeria's first confirmed
coronavirus case was announced in late February.
Buhari said he was "directing the cessation of all
movements" in Lagos, Abuja and Ogun for an "initial period" of
14 days.
"All citizens in these areas are to stay in their homes.
Travel to or from other states should be postponed. All
businesses and offices within these locations should be fully
closed during this period," Buhari said.
The 77-year-old president, whose chief of staff last week
tested positive for the highly infectious disease, said the
"containment period" would be used to identify, trace and
isolate all individuals that have come into contact with
confirmed cases.
"We will ensure the treatment of confirmed cases while
restricting further spread to other states," he said.
Buhari said the restriction would not apply to hospitals and
in health care facilities related to manufacturing and
distribution.
Late on Sunday, long queues started to form at supermarkets
in Lagos and Abuja.
Buhari acknowledged that the restrictions may make it hard
for people to feed themselves in a country where most people
live on less than $2 a day.
"We are fully aware that such measures will cause much
hardship and inconvenience to many citizens. But this is a
matter of life and death," he said.
Buhari added that "relief materials" would be distributed to
communities around the states affected, but did not give further
details.
Lagos, the powerhouse of Africa's biggest economy and the
country's commercial capital of some 20 million people, began a
seven-day partial shutdown late last week. The global coronavirus outbreak has already torpedoed
Africa's biggest economy through its impact on major trade
partner China, where the pandemic began. Amid low oil prices
caused by a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia, Nigeria
earlier this month devalued its currency and said it must cut
this year's budget by $4.9 billion.