(Minna)
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state has directed the police and other security agencies, enforcing lockdown orders across the state, to dismantle all blocks for free movement of goods and people as he further relaxes curfew to six hours at night.
The Governor in a state wide broadcast on Tuesday said with effects from Wednesday, restriction of movement of persons and services across Niger state would now be between 10 p.m and 4 a.m daily.
“Henceforth, all the markets, Banks and other commercial and places of business activities are hereby opened with strict adherence to all COVID 19 safety measures.“There shall no more be lockdown days”, Governor Bello said.
He also directed the state Ministry of Education to liaise with relevant stakeholders to arrive at a safe date for resumption of schools across the state.
Bello, however, disclosed that “As at today, the state has recorded 46 cases of covid-19 and one death out of which 26 have been discharged and reunited with their families. This represents more than half of the cases we have had to manage.
“All cases confirmed are so far limited to 9 out of the 25 Local Government Areas, additional isolation centres have been built to cater for repatriated almajiris who would be reunite with their families to curtail their chances of contracting the virus,”he added.
Governor Bello, who maintained that the ban on commercial motorcycles that defied state government order on movement remained, urged civil servants to remain at home except for those on essential duties.
