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Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, has extended lockdown in the state by three days.
The governor, disclosed this on Thursday evening via a post Twitter, noted that the extension was to curb the community transmission of COVID-19 in the state.
Oyetola also announced a dusk to dawn curfew in the state until further notice, starting from Monday, May 4.
He said: “To avoid escalating community transmission, we have decided to review the lockdown which terminates at midnight of today, Thursday, 30th April, to strike a midway without unnecessarily putting the lives of our people and the economy of the State at risk.
“All the prevailing lockdown conditions shall subsist during this period, and violators shall be dealt with in accordance with the law. I, therefore, urge you all to continue to adhere with the lockdown directive.”
Oyetola, however, said as from Monday, May 4, 2020, the lockdown will be eased and new rules shall be enforced in line with the recommendations of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the approval of the President and the peculiar situation in the state.
“There shall be partial lockdown between 6 am and 5 pm from Monday to Thursday to enable the people go about their businesses and allow government to run. However, total lockdown shall be in force from 6 pm on Thursday to Sunday.
“There shall also be a dusk to dawn curfew from 6pm – 6am from Monday to Thursday until further notice. Movement of vehicle & persons is outlawed during the period of the curfew except for verified medical emergency cases and those on essential duties.
“Also, the ban on public, religious, political & educational gatherings remains in force. Additionally, all major markets shall remain shut,” the governor said.
He stated that businesses are expected to provide liquid soap, running water and hand sanitisers, while supermarkets should not have more than 10 persons at any time in their store.
The governor also said inter-state travels are forbidden and as such the state’s boundaries remain closed.
He said: “There shall be no vehicular & human movement into & out of the state except trucks carrying medicals, beverages, foods, petroleum, construction & agriculture supplies. These supply vehicles shall not carry more than 3 persons.
A”lso, intra-city commercial transportation will be permitted to from Monday to Thursday every week from 6 am to 5 pm, but transporters are required to adhere to strict social distancing directives.
“Buses & taxis, shall carry two passengers per row with each passenger sitting at the extreme end of the vehicle. While commercial motorcycles (Okada) shall carry one passenger, tricycles shall carry not more than 2 passengers & no passenger in front.
“Violators of the aforementioned directives will be prosecuted in accordance with the laws of the state. Any facility or establishment that violates the above directives will be shut down and any vehicle caught in violation will be forfeited to the state government.”
Oyetola further stated that the state government will continue to intensify efforts at COVID-19 testing so as to be able to deal with the pandemic as quickly as possible.
“I must place on record the steadfastness of all health workers and volunteers for their unusual commitment to duty and sacrifice in arresting the spread of this much-dreaded COVID-19 pandemic. Your collective sacrifice will never be in vain.
“Let us therefore collectively focus on doing all it takes to hold this deadly virus in check and heal our land. Together, we can do It,” he added.