COVID 19: Rivers shuts routes; Kaduna bans ‘Keke’ and ‘Okada’, among other new measures

Kaduna State Government has banned the operations of motorcycle taxis and tricycles because they do not satisfy the conditions for social distancing.
In Rivers State, the government announced the closure, from Thursday, of all land, sea, and air routes into the State. The State Governor also announced the discovery of a passenger infected with COVID-19 who was stopped from flying into Port Harcourt by security men.
On his Twitter handle, Governor Nyesom Wike wrote: “It is with gratitude to God that I announce to you that our state would have been infected with Coronavirus yesterday (Tuesday) but for the vigilance of security agents who, acting on a tip-off, prevented an infected person from boarding a flight from Abuja to Port Harcourt.
The infected person beat all security measures that were put in place at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and was to sneak into Port Harcourt before security agents stopped her”.
However, a new case of COVID-19 has been discovered in Rivers State, as part of five new discoveries in the country, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). There are now 51 confirmed cases, with Osun now adding one, too.
The Kaduna Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe in a state broadcast on Wednesday, said that decision was taken after senior government officials met to review the level of compliance of the measures taken to contain the spread of COVID 19.
Dr Balarabe said that commercial buses are allowed to operate for now but must comply to the new rule of not more than two passengers per row.
According to her, the government is ready to suspend all forms of pubic transportation if circumstances compel it.
The Deputy Governor recalled that the state government had ‘’requested the appropriate authorities to stop train services to help curtail the spread of Covid-19.
‘’Further to this, the Kaduna State Government will today(Wednesday) be taking steps to stop the Abuja-Kaduna train service which needs to be suspended for a few weeks,’’ she added.
Dr Balarabe said that government has directed all utility vehicles that have been assigned to officials be recalled in order ‘’to enhance the state’s capacity for rapid response and contact tracing, monitoring and supervision of surveillance activities should any positive case be identified.’’
‘’The vehicles should be parked in the yard of the Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure. Drivers of the utility vehicles should also report to the Commissioner of Public Works to submit their contact details,’’ she directed.
According to Dr Hadiza, payment of salaries for March 2020 has commenced but she advised everyone to be financially prudent, given the tough times that lie ahead.
‘’The state government is committed to getting food and necessities across to identified vulnerable groups should a lockdown become inevitable.
‘’The required supplies are being procured while a system of distribution to the persons that most need them is being worked out,’’ she assured.
Dr Balarabe thanked people for the growing compliance with the measures that have been announced to protect residents of the state from coronavirus.
‘’The state government will continue its enlightenment campaigns in the media to help people stay safe, stay alive and save lives. And it will not relent in robustly enforcing preventive measures,’’ she said.
Dr Balarabe reiterated the ban on large gatherings, the closure of markets, with the exception of traders in food, medicines and essential items, including the need for people to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel.
‘’Government recognises that compliance with these measures come with a level of inconvenience for which we readily apologise. But we trust that everyone understands the necessity for these sacrifices as the most pragmatic way to keep people safe and alive,’’ she added.