You are here: HomeNews2020 07 04Article 364141

General News of Saturday, 4 July 2020

Source: www.mynigeria.com

Oyetola orders lockdown of four LGA over COVID-19

Governor Gboyega Oyetola Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola Osun State

Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, has ordered the lockdown of four local government areas in the state, beginning from Tuesday, in order to contain the spread of the COVID-19.

MyNigeria.com reports that the governor also extended the relaxation in other areas for another two weeks.

According to the statement on the state government's official Twitter page, the affected states are Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Atakumosa East and Atakumosa West.

"The lockdown is expected to commence on Tuesday, July 7, and it will be for one week in the first instance. However, if the compliance level is not encouraging, the government will announce further extension."

The state also said it was closely monitoring other Local Government areas with rising numbers of those testing positive for COVID-19 and may in the days ahead lock down more areas.

In the statement released by the State's Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, intra-state travel to and within the affected communities and to other parts of the State is banned during the period of the lockdown and offenders will be punished.

The lockdown would be total. Residents and citizens in that axis will not have the opportunity to go to worship centres and markets during the period. They will only be allowed to shop within their neighbourhood.

Under the lockdown, there would be no vehicular movement within the affected areas. Only those on essential duties such as health, fire service, environmental officials, security personnel, power and water supply agencies, media and telecommunication officers will be allowed to move.

“As you are all aware, the Federal Government, a few days ago lifted the ban on interstate travel in the country. We have, therefore, lifted ours too. But our relaxation guidelines still subsist except for four local government areas, namely; Ilesa West, Ilesa East, Atakumosa West and Atakumosa East Local Government areas where we have now ordered a one-week lockdown, effective Tuesday, July 7.

“For the avoidance of doubt, our curfew will still run from 9.p.m to 5.a.m daily in other parts of the State, except the locked down LGAs.

“To this end, we urge citizens and residents of the affected communities to take advantage of the hours between now and Monday to stock up provisions that will last them one week in the first instance.

“We have mandated and mobilised the state’s task force and security operatives to strictly enforce the measures.

“The decision to shut down a part of the state, though painful, is the only way to go if it must arrest the further spread of the virus in the state,” she added.