Following the confirmation of two cases of COVID-19 in Offa, Kwara State government has announced a total shutdown of the ancient town to contain community transmission and save people’s lives. The shutdown became effective at 6pm local time on Wednesday April 8th.
This directive was pursuant to the Kwara State Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulation 2020.
The shutdown means total restriction on every vehicular movement into or from Offa. The exceptions to this directive are those contained in the recent address of President which granted access to vehicles transporting foodstuffs, poultry and pharmaceutical products. Any other movement, private or commercial, according to the government, hereby banned for the next 14 days or until such a time the government is satisfied that our people are no longer at risk of mass infections arising from the two cases that have been traced to the town.
Any violators are liable to punishments outlined in the Kwara State Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulation 2020. Various security agencies, including the police and the Nigerian Navy, have been drafted to enforce this directive while His Royal Highness the Olofa of Offa has been fully briefed, the release announcing the shutdown stated..
The government urge the people to please bear with it in this tough period, adding that the human community is certain to come out of this pandemic stronger and better. The government further calls for timely report of any suspicious case of COVID-19, stressing that anyone with travel history to frontline states, the America or European countries and others in the last three weeks should please contact the Kwara State Technical Committee for relevant advisory.
It added that arrangements have been made to distribute palliatives to the poorest of the poor to assist them in this trying time. “This will happen before the week runs out. The categories of the people to receive the palliatives are strictly the aged, the physically challenged, widows/widowers, poor artisans, and any other needy group that the ward-based committee on palliatives deem qualified for the food stuffs.
“These committees comprise traditional rulers, religious leaders and local Community Based Organisations whose duty is to monitor the exercise. We want to clarify that this palliative cannot go round. It is targeted strictly at the poorest of the poor in the belief that they are the most affected at this time”, the statement added.
It assured that the government would do everything to keep the people safe, urging them to maintain social distancing and avoid crowd.