Kaduna in Partial Lockdown As Ganduje Orders All Kano Event Centres Closed
POLIOTICS DIGEST – Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has directed a partial lockdown in Kaduna state, saying that, all civil servants from Level 12 and below, should remain at home for the next 30 days, effective from Tuesday.
El Rufai in a state broadcast on Monday, directed that from Tuesday, markets should be partially open, saying that, ‘’only traders selling food and medicines are permitted to open their shops.
El-Rufai who said that the directive became necessary to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, pointed out that, his government will not hesitate to enforce a total lockdown of the state of the need arises.
The Governor however said that workers providing essential services workers in the health, security and emergency service sectors are exempted from this directive.
He decried that the Government’s directive against large gatherings was flouted, however expressed gratitude to those religious leaders who complied with the directive.
El-Rufai further said that Government ‘’received reports of congregations in some churches and mosques, as well as large crowds in weddings and other social activities.’’
“Over the weekend, we also sadly observed shocking levels of complacency as some people ignored their responsibility to uphold preventive measures.’ He noted.
The Government has now ‘’decided to move from advice to actual enforcement of its restrictions on large gatherings, especially in churches and mosques,’’ he said.
According to him, ‘’security agencies have been directed to ensure compliance across the state. These agencies will also enforce compliance with the decision to close all schools, whether public or private, religious or secular, Islamiya or run by Christian missions.’’
El Rufai warned that, ‘’the state government will not hesitate to impose a state wide curfew, should that become the only way to enforce compliance and make everyone understand the collective danger that we face.’’
The Governor also directed that markets will remain partially open as ‘’only traders selling food and medicines are permitted to open their shops, effective from Tuesday, 24th March 2020.’’
“This directive will be vigorously enforced by the security agencies and the Kaduna Markets Development and Management Company which will also ensure that all markets are fumigated,’’ he added.
The Governor said that he will not hesitate to impose a lockdown of the entire state, if events dictate, adding that ‘’this will be done with every effort to take care of the poor and vulnerable.’’
The Governor however reiterated that no case of Covid-19 has been reported Kaduna State so far but, “the Government has a duty to work with all our leaders and residents of our state to jointly ensure that everything is done to reduce the chance of the disease taking root and spreading in the state.
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“it is better to impose restrictions and save lives, than to be complacent and bury victims. Countries that have hesitated to impose extraordinary measures to contain coronavirus are now regretting. We have a chance to avoid such mistakes.”
The Governor further directed people to stay at home and avoid unnecessary travel. He advised residents to postpone every trip until this pandemic is curtailed, arguing that ‘’only those who are alive can travel.’’
“To this end, we have contacted the relevant federal authorities to stop the Abuja-Kaduna train service and thus limit the danger from contact on the train and influx from people who might have been exposed to infected persons,’’ he added.
El Rufai also urged all citizens who recently returned from travel overseas to please self-isolate for 14 days.
“Any symptoms of cough, fever or difficulty in breathing should be reported to the following numbers: 08025088304, 08032401473, 08035871662 and 08037808191,” he said.
Meanwhile, management of Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna has equally placed restrictions on visit to hospital, saying that, only one person will henceforth be allowed to accompany a patient to the hospital.
The Chief Medical Director of the Teaching Hospital, Professor AbdulKadir Musa Tabari while briefing newsmen Monday afternoon said the hospital’s isolation unit has equipped to receive any suspected case.
Professor Tabari also said that, the hospital staff has been equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE) such as sanitizer and face mask among others.
Similarly in Kano state, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Monday ordered for the immediate closure of all the event centers in the state.
Also, affected in the measures roll out by the state government to prevent the spread of the dreaded COVID-19 that have ravaged the world, included that there should not be more than 20 people in any gathering.
Ganduje in special state live broadcast to the people of the state on Monday explained that COVID-19 is now a global pandemic which has killed many across the world.
As part of the proactive measures against Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) by Kano state, the government has also suspended all official engagements and ordered the State Ministry of Tourism and Culture to call the attention of owners of all Event Centres in the state, to suspend all activities till further notice.
Ganduje also maintained that in an effort to curtail the spread of the virus, his administration has constituted a high-level task force headed by the Deputy Governor Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gwauna.
According to him, “prevention they say better than cure. This is why our administration is taking a preventive measure to close down all private and public schools in Kano state”
He noted that religious and traditional institutions have been charged to collaborate efforts with the state government in enlightening the public to desist from any gathering which aims of curtailing the spread of the menace.
He further appealed to members of the General public to adhere to the advice of medical professionals in observing personal and environmental hygiene aimed at achieving the set targets.
Governor Ganduje reaffirmed the directives given earlier for the prohibition of All social gathering in the state, including closure of event centres.
He charged the General populace to redouble their efforts in praying for the peaceful coexistence of the state and the nation at large.
