Niger state Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello has announced further extension on the restriction of movement of people in the state by another two weeks starting from 28th April, 2020.
The extension according to the government became necessary in order to achieve the desired result of minimizing the spread of the Corona Virus.
The initial two weeks’ Executive order on the restriction of movement towards containment of Covid-19 expired on the 26th of April 2020.
Arising from the outcome of the Executive council and COVID-19 Taskforce meeting held at Government House, Minna, the Governor annouced, that people will however be allowed to move within their immediate environment in STRICT compliance with the physical distancing, wearing of Face Mask and other measures daily or will be penalized.
Governor Sani Bello stated that there shall be no vehicular movement on the lockdown days except those on essential services but there shall be three days window period weekly, Tuesday, Friday and Sunday from 7:00am to 12 midnight, while movement of people is restricted to their local governments only.
Accordingly, there shall be no form of social or religious gatherings during the weekly window periods.
He directed that all schools and offices should remain closed, while all major markets in the state are to remain closed except neighborhood markets and shops added that all shops and places of worship that did not provide basic handwashing materials, keep to physical distancing and the use of facemask should be closed.
The Governor noted that the increasing cases of the Corona Virus disease made it mandatory to decidedly restrict interstate movement of vehicles and people.
He said the state government will remain very active at the border by strengthening and enforcing interstate boundary movement stressing that all violators shall be forcefully quarantined in order to reduce the risk of transmission.
The Governor further directed that operators of commercial motorcycles and tricycles (Keke NAPEP) should carry one and two passengers respectively, with each wearing facemasks.
The Taskforce were directed to enforce maximum restrictions at the state and local government levels and liaise with the council Chairmen to ensure replication of the Executive Order in their respective local government areas.
Meanwhile, the state government has the commencement of the second round of distribution of palliative across the 274 wards, targeting households from this week.
