COVID-19: Governors Agree Two Weeks Inter-State Lockdown

By Adedapo Adesanya

As COVID-19 cases nears 900 in Nigeria, Governors of the 36 states of the federation have agreed to restrict inter-state movement for two weeks. This is part of efforts to curtail the spread of the contagion.

This decision was reached at a virtual meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) held on Wednesday, April 22.

The Governor of Ekiti State and NGF Chairman, Mr Kayode Fayemi, said the decision had been taken due to the increasing evidence of community transmission of the virus.

In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, it was stated that, “Following an update from the NGF Secretariat on the number of COVID-19 cases in the country, members expressed serious concern over the rising spread of the virus among health workers.

“The governors resolved to work with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to ensure that health workers are adequately provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) and are constantly trained on the use of protective gears.

“In order to strengthen coordinated implementation of necessary public health recommendations across states, Governors resolved to set up COVID-19 Committees at the regional level, headed by their State Commissioners of Health.

“Regional Committees will continue to interface with the State Task Force Committees on COVID-19 already established in each state.

“The Forum also received briefing from the Governors of Lagos, Bauchi, Oyo and Ogun states who shared their experiences and lessons from the fight against COVID-19.

“Governors unanimously agreed to the implementation of an inter-state lockdown in the country over the next two weeks to mitigate spread of the virus from State to State. Only essential services will be permitted.”

With 91 new cases of COVID-19 as of 11:25 pm, April 22, Nigeria’s case count hit 873 confirmed cases. A breakdown of the new cases are as follows: 74 in Lagos States, five in Katsina and four in Ogun.

Two each in Delta and Edo states and one each in Kwara, Oyo, FCT and Adamawa. Total discharged persons stood 197 with deaths at 28.

About 25 states have so far recorded cases along with the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja: Lagos-504; FCT – 119; Kano – 73; Ogun – 24; Katsina -21; Osun -20; Oyo – 17; Edo – 17; Kwara – 10.

Others include Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Borno – nine; Bauchi- eight; Delta – six; Gombe -five; Ekiti – four; Ondo and Rivers – three; Jigawa, Enugu, Niger, Abia – two; Benue, Anambra, Sokoto, and Adamawa – one.

Some of the uninfected states include Yobe, Benue, Taraba, Bayelsa and Plateau States.