From Rasaq Ibrahim, Ado-Ekiti, Toba Adedeji, Osogbo, Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia, Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba ,Augustine Okezie, Katsina and Duku Joel, Damaturu
- Ekiti to activate Food Bank, mull stipends for self-employees
- Travellers stranded in Asaba, Katsina
- Abia asks monarchs to confine Abuja, Lagos returnees
More states on Sunday announced complete lockdown as practical way of stemming the rising spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus).
The states that are to join others that had either shut their borders or declared state of emergency are Ekiti, Osun, Abia and Yobe.
From tomorrow, there will be no movements in Ekiti State for 14 days and in Osun, where all borders were shut last night, a complete restriction of movements within the state commences on Tuesday.
Abia took similar decisions with Osun but said a month’s complete shutdown of the state would begin, Wednesday. Yobe however said its border closure will commence tomorrow night pending the curtailment of the virus.
Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun) announced the measures during state-wide broadcasts on the pandemic disease on Sunday.
No fewer than 14 states had last week either closed their borders and restricted intra-state transportation in the efforts to bring the COVID-19 spread under control.
The states are: Ogun, Rivers, Kogi, Delta, Enugu, Katsina, Nasarawa, Niger, Kano, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Kebbi and Benue.
In his broadcast, Fayemi, who double as Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), said the curfew on Ekiti starts from 7am to 7pm daily for an initial 14-day period.
He stated that from the midnight of Monday, all residents must stay at home except those on essential services.
The governor said inter and intra-local government and towns’ movements are prohibited within the stipulated time frame.
The decisions, according to the governor, was sequel to the “lukewarm, nonchalant or downright defiance” of some residents in observing compliance with earlier directives to them on how to protect themselves from infection and curtail the spread of the virus in their communities.
Fayemi warned that anyone that violates the orders would be liable to a fine or jailed for a period not exceeding six months or to both.
He said: “It is in urgent public interest that we must ensure strict compliance with all directives given to prevent community spreading of the disease.
“Therefore, in our collective interest and to further ensure the safety of Ekiti-kete, having declared Coronavirus an infectious disease in Ekiti State, I hereby, in pursuant to Section 8 of the Quarantine Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) impose a curfew on movement in Ekiti State.
“The purpose of this curfew is to impose restrictions on the movement of persons and goods within Ekiti State for an initial period of fourteen days. This is in order to prevent the spread of Coronavirus in Ekiti State.
“All boundaries of Ekiti State are closed during this period, except for transportation of fuel, food and drugs and other essential goods.”
Fayemi directed that all commercial vehicles, motor bike and tricycle service operators are prohibited from plying the roads except those rendering essential services.
“All non-residents who arrive the state prior to, or after, the imposition of this restriction, and who remain in the state, must remain in their place of temporary residence in the state for the duration of the 14 days, as the case may be, and may be subjected to screening for COVID-19 and be quarantined or isolated if necessary,” he added.
Read Also: COVID-19: Bauchi, Imo, Ekiti shut markets
The governor directed that the state Food Bank be reactivated immediately to provide food items for the poor and vulnerable families in the state.
He added that the task force on the control of the virus which headed by him would announce the modalities as soon as the process was fully activated.
Fayemi also said that the government would consider paying stipends to self-employed citizens whose daily income would be interrupted as a result of the curfew.
“I have directed the Commissioners for Finance and Budget to advise on the amount the state can afford in view of our dire financial constraints,” the governor stated.
He added that the government would also commence disinfecting of major public places like markets, bus stops, motor parks, health facilities and all likely places where the virus might be lurking in the state.
Fayemi said the fight against coronavirus is a very expensive battle, especially for the people of the state, where they can barely meet regular obligations.
To meet the challenge, he said: “We have also set up an Ekiti State COVID-19 Pandemic Support Account with UBA Current Account Number 1022752067 for donations towards our efforts in this regard.”
Fayemi’s counterpart in Osun, Oyetola, said the decision to lockdown his state was because of the devastating nature of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Expressing sadness over the second infection case in the state, Oyetola reiterated that the decision remained the only way to go if his administration was to contain the spread of the disease.
His words, “Following a review of our current situation, we have in addition to the subsisting measures taken in the past one week, decided to shutdown all our boundaries, effective from midnight Sunday, March 29, 2020.
“In addition, a complete lockdown of the state will come into effect from midnight, Tuesday, March 31, 2020.
“We believe this is the way to go if we must contain the spread of this virus. To this end, we urge citizens and residents to take advantage of the hours between now and Tuesday to stock up provisions that will last them two weeks in the first instance.
“During the lockdown, there will be no movement within the state. The closed boundaries also means there will be no inter-state movements.
“However, those on essential duties such as health personnel, fire service, environmental officials, security personnel, power and water supply agencies, media and telecommunication officers will be on duty. Also, pharmaceutical and medical outfits will be allowed to open.
“We have mandated and mobilised the state’s taskforce and security operatives to enforce the measures to the letter. We, therefore, strongly advise our people to remain in their homes during the period of the lockdown.
“When an emergency occurs, such as the one at hand, the first priority of any responsive and responsible government is to respond effectively to protect its citizens. This is what we will continue to do.”
Abia Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi-Kalu, said in a statement on Sunday that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu decided to shut down “based on situational reviews”.
Okiyi-Kalu, who said the closure of the state’s land borders became effective 4am today, added that security agencies, traditional rulers and youths had been directed to ensure total compliance with the directive.
He also said that all the monarchs in the state and security agencies are to make sure that “all persons identified to have returned from Lagos, Abuja and overseas are confined to their homes for at least 14 days.”
The commissioner clarified that the total shutdown on movements in and out of the state for next four weeks would commence on Wednesday.
However, only food and grocery sellers will be allowed to operate in front of their homes.
The government directed security agents in the state to apprehend and arraign before a mobile court, anyone who violated the directives.
Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni said he had decided to stop travellers from entering the state beginning midnight tomorrow to guard against importation of the dreaded Coronavirus to the state.
The governor, in a statement by his Director-General of Press and Media Affairs, Mamman Mohammed, appealed to traders in the state not to take advantage of the situation to hike prices of goods.
Buni expressed gratitude to God for the zero status of the state but called on the people to obey all instructions by health workers on the prevention and control of the virus.
In Delta State where the government had late last week closed its borders, hundreds of travellers caught by the decision were lamenting their predicament at the Asaba end of the Niger Bridge.
Gridlock on the bridge stretched over two kilometres as law enforcement agents enforced the order by the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa administration.
Many of the stranded commuters, who spoke with The Nation reporter in Asaba, said they were not aware of the directive.
They expressed disappointment at their not being able to continue with their journey.
Some desperate ones among them attempted to cross the River Niger through boats stationed underneath the bridge ,but were driven back by soldiers.
The situation was almost the same in Katsina where many motorists and travellers sought entry into the state through the Tudun Iya and Nahuce/Hunkuyi border post.
Investigation by The Nation revealed that some of the restless travellers walked through the bush paths while others boarded commercials to enter the state.
Trucks carrying many Almajiri children heading to Zamfara and Niger Republic were also sighted at the at the border post.
In Borno State, Governor Babagana Zulum of said his government would start implementing the ban on passengers and vehicular movements into the state Tuesday.
He, however, said that vehicles transporting food items, medicine, fuel and other essential goods would not be affected by the ban.
The governor also said in a statement yesterday that he had directed the suspension of the ongoing statewide verification of council workers.
He added that workers on grade levels 01 to 12 are to work from home with the exception of those on essential services.
The statement reads: “As from Tuesday March 31, all banks operating in Maiduguri and organisations using biometric attendance equipment must provide hand washing stations and sanitisers at all operation points.
“Furthermore, banks are to limit the number of customers in banking halls to not more than 15 at a time and to activate all ATM points to be functional.
Zulum further directed shops in organised business areas to provide hand washing stations and temperature monitoring devices as well as promote social distancing, warning that defaulters would risk closure.
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