From Justina Asishana, Minna
Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has announced the easing of the lockdown and restriction of movement in the state.
The governor declared this while receiving the technical committee report for the establishment of Niger State COVID-19 molecular testing laboratory in Minna.
According to the governor, markets, banks, other business activities and worship centres can open for daily and weekly activities. Curfew will now be from 10 pm to 4 am daily.
He stressed that there would be a compulsory use of face mask and strict adherence to social distancing at public places.
Bello added that the ban on inter-state travels is still in place except for the movement of agricultural produce, manufactured goods, petroleum products and essential services.
Meanwhile, the ordered the dismantling of all security checkpoints, while the ban on commercial motorcycle operation is still in place.
On the reopening of schools, Bello stated that the ministry of education would liaise with education stakeholders on the reopening of schools.
Read Also: Taraba relaxes lockdown
The Niger State House of Assembly has expressed concern over the continuous silence of the state government over the COVID-19 situation in the state.
They summoned, on Monday, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Matane, who is the state Chairman on the Task Force Committee on COVID-19 and the Commissioner of Health, Dr Mohammad Maikunsidi, to brief the house on the activities of the Taskforce.
The Member representing Bosso constituency, Malik Madaki Bosso, while presenting a matter of urgent public importance explained that the state is not clear about the activities of the state government on how the COVID-19 is affecting the state.
Bosso stressed that the state government need to inform the people on how many are presently positive with the virus, and how they are being managed.
“The state government needs to clear the air on how many people from the state are positive. The state government needs to inform the people on how those people are being managed medically.
“There is need for the government to also brief the people on the contact tracing and therefore how many people are in the isolation centre as a result of contact tracing.”
Also speaking, the member representing Bida II Constituency, Haruna Mohammed, expressed worry over how nobody knows about the activities of the state Taskforce on COVID-19 and how they keep their activities quiet.
After deliberating on the matter raised by Bosso, the Assembly directed that the SSG and the Commissioner of Health appear before the plenary to brief the Legislators on the activities of the Committee and the way forward.
The legislators also constituted an Ad-hoc committee to inspect the isolation and quarantine centres and monitor other activities related to COVID-19 in the state.
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