Lokoja
The kwara state government has ordered total shutdown of Offa town inKwara state over COVID-19 pandemic as part of the proactive measures to prevent the spread of the virus in the town.
The shutdown directive was announced at the late hour of Tuesday in Ilorin by the Deputy Governor/Chairman, Kwara State Technical Committee on COVID-19 Kayode Alabi, following the confirmation of two COVID-19 patients from the town.
He said the directive was pursuant to the Kwara State Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulation 2020.
Alabi said: “The shutdown means total restriction on every vehicular movement into or from Offa.
“The exceptions to this directive are those contained in the recent address of Mr President which granted access to vehicles transporting foodstuffs, poultry and pharmaceutical products.
“Any other movement, private or commercial, is hereby banned for the next 14 days or until such a time the government is satisfied that our people are no longer at risk of mass infections arising from the two cases that have been traced to the town, starting from 6pm on Wednesday.
“Any violators are liable to punishments outlined in the Kwara State Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulation 2020.
“Various security agencies, including the police and the Nigerian Navy, have been drafted to enforce this directive while His Royal Highness, the Olofa of Offa has been fully briefed.”
The deputy governor, however said, arrangements had been made to distribute palliatives to the poorest of the poor, to assist them in this trying time.
“This will happen before the week runs out. The categories of the people to receive the palliatives are strictly the aged, the physically challenged, widows/widowers, poor artisans, and any other needy group that the ward-based committee on palliatives deem qualified for the food stuffs.”
“This committee comprises traditional rulers, religious leaders and local Community-Based Organisations whose duty is to monitor the exercise.
“We want to clarify that this palliative cannot go round. It is targeted strictly at the poorest of the poor in the belief that they are the most affected at this time.”
He urged Kwarans to stay calm, assuring them that” Government will do everything to keep the people safe.
” We also need you to play your own role. Stay at home. Keep social distancing. Avoid crowd. Prioritise personal hygiene and please do not spread unverified news.
He described as false, claims that one of the two suspected COVID-19 patients had died, stressing that both of them ” remain stable and asymptomatic at this time.”
Duaglobalnews recalls that the Kwara State Technical Committee on COVID-19 on Monday, confirmed two separate cases of COVID-19 in the state. One is the wife of the UITH patient, a UK returnee, who died last Thursday and the other is another UK returnee.
