COVID-19: Kwara shuts boundaries, warns commercial motorcyclists violating shutdown order
Ademola Adeshina
The Kwara State Government has announced the immediate closure of its local and external borders amid ramped up efforts to block entries of vehicles from outside and prevent the outbreak of COVID-19 in the state.
The state government, however, said the border closure excluded all categories of movement sanctioned in the broadcast of President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that the partial shutdowns within the state remain in force until further notice.
According to the deputy governor and Chairman of the Kwara State Technical Committee on COVID-19, Mr. Kayode Alabi, “The government hereby announces the shutting down of all our land borders to ban movement to the state from elsewhere.
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“The only exemptions to this rule are those stated in the address of Mr President. Specifically, these are vehicles carrying agricultural produce, medical equipments, and officials on essential duties related to COVID-19 campaign.
“All previous restrictions and exemptions locally remain in force. A specific warning here goes to commercial motorcycles (Okada) who have been violating the shutdown orders. Any violators caught would face the full consequences of the law.”
Alabi also said the government will begin fumigation of markets and other specific locations after which specific markets would be designated for people to purchase essentials like food and medicines.
He continued, “The government has approved the fumigation of our markets and other specific places. 200 fumigating machines have been purchased for this purpose.
“This should begin latest April 2, 2020 to decontaminate these places. Thereafter, specific markets in the state would be designated and announced for people to purchase food stuffs and other essentials only.
“Public transportation (Soludero buses) will be made available with strict adherence to social distancing and other preventive protocols.
“In addition to the facilities on ground, the government is evacuating the Sobi Specialist Hospital and dedicate it entirely as COVID-19 response centre, among other steps.
“The various wards at the facility with about 20 patients are being moved to nearby government hospitals with all services intact.
