Dipo Olowookere
By Dipo Olowookere
The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr Oscar Onyema, has said the exchange will continue to operate remotely despite the gradual easing of lockdown in Lagos State.
Last Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari at a nationwide broadcast, said businesses can resume operations from today in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States.
These three places were earlier shut down by the federal government on March 29, 2020 as part of efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country.
Despite offices allowed to begin their normal activities from today, though controlled, Mr Onyema has said some of its employees will continue to work from home like they did when the lockdown was on.
“We will maintain restricted access to our office facilities, including our trading floors across the country, and continue remote trading and business activities.
“Our employees will keep on working from home except for essential staff who will continue to work out of the office as they have been doing since we commenced remote trading in order to ensure that our operations run smoothly and provide support.
“We expect that you will continue to utilize all of our digital platforms at your disposal to trade remotely and engage with us. Further updates on our business continuity plans will be shared with our stakeholders in due course,” Mr Onyema said in a statement.
However, the NSE chief assured stakeholders that, “The exchange is open for business remotely and will remain so through this pandemic.”
“Should you need to engage with us on any matter, please reach out to us via e-mail, X-Issuer, X-Boss, X-Whistle, telephone, our website or any of our other digital and social platforms,” he said.
From Monday, May 4, 2020. all non-essential interstate travel will remain banned, while businesses, markets and malls will operate from 8am to 3pm. The federal government also announced a nationwide curfew between 8:00pm and 6:00am, except essential services.
