Rivers State Government has cancelled the proposed lockdown of
Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas scheduled to resume
tomorrow.
Governor Nyesom Wike who stated this in a state-wide broadcast also
announced the imposition of 8p.m to 6am curfew in the 23 Local
Government Areas of the State with effect from June 2,2020 till further
notice.
The Governor also revealed that government has uncovered plans by some
criminal elements led by one Bobosky to cause security breaches in
Khana, Eleme,Gokana, Tai, Oyigbo and Ikwerre Local Government Areas.
“After a comprehensive review of the measures taken and further
considerations placed before us by well-meaning members of the public,
the State Security Council has decided to cancel the proposed lockdown
on Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas of the State.
“In essence, no part of Rivers State is or will be under any lockdown
from this moment and this will be so, except where it becomes necessary
again.
“As we all know, the regular washing of hands, religious wearing of face
masks, keeping effective physical and social distance of between 1.5 to
2 meters from other people, completely avoiding touching of faces with
unwashed hands, and cleaning of surfaces we regularly touch have been
identified as some of the most effective measures against contracting
this virus in the absence of vaccine, ” he said.
According to the Governor, government would re-enforce the decisions on
the continuous implementation of the following measures throughout the
State:
(i) All land borders, including all exit and entry routes into Rivers
State shall remain closed to human and vehicular traffic, except those
on essential services and duly exempted.
(ii) All residents must wear face masks or covering into any public
space, including our roads, banks, shopping malls, shops, hotels and in
any lawful social gathering.
(iii) The State task force and the security agencies have been directed
to arrest and summarily prosecute any person seen on our streets or any
other public place without wearing face masks.
(iv) All banks, motor parks, hotels, restaurants, shops, business
centres, shopping malls, and offices must maintain social distancing and
enforce the wearing of face masks in their premises.
(v) The State task force and security agencies have been directed to
seal up, prosecute and confiscate to the State any bank, shopping mall,
restaurant, shop, business place or office that fails to enforce social
distancing and the wearing of face masks in its premises.
(vi) In addition to providing daily guest list to the Police and the
Department of State Security, hoteliers must not host large gatherings,
including parties and receptions. Defaulting hotels will be sealed-up
and the owners summarily prosecuted.
(vii) All bars, beer palours, or drinking joints, night-clubs, viewing
centres, open markets and cinemas shall remain closed until further
notice;
(viii) Oil mill market in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area shall remain
closed until further notice;
(ix) Oginigba Slaughter market in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area shall
similarly remain closed until further notice.
(x) Mbiama market in Ahoada West Local Government Area shall also remain
closed until further notice;
(xi) All public weddings, burials and large social gatherings shall
remain banned.
(xii) Churches and other religious gatherings should continue to comply
with the existing advisory on social distancing, initiate temperature
checks and enforce the wearing of face masks during their activities;
(xiii) Dealers in Ikoku Spare Parts markets are warned for the last time
to stop converting public roads to mechanic workshops or risk final
closure.
(xiv) Similarly, no mechanic workshop should be found along Ikwerre road
as Government will prosecute defaulters and confiscate any vehicle being
repaired on any public road.
(xv) Private and commercial vehicles, including tricycles must continue
to limit their passengers to the number earlier established and enforce
the wearing of face masks by all passengers. Defaulters will be
prosecuted and their vehicles confiscated by the Task force.
These measures, he said, are in the best interest of our State, to
protect our lives, businesses, and jobs as well as, to prevent our
troubled economy from suffering irreparable damage.
“This also means that, residents now bear much greater responsibility to
stop and prevent our State from suffering the exponential and
potentially devastating spread of the virus being experienced across the
“As 60% of the positive cases recorded in the State are connected with
oil company workers, we have initiated a meeting with all the major oil
companies to work out strategies on how we can stop this trend and stop
the risk this category of workers now pose to the State.
“Government is also investigating the rumored or suspected outbreak of
the coronavirus at Bonny Island.
“Our team of medical personnel led by the Commissioner for Health has
visited Bonny Island and collected samples from suspected cases for
analysis and immediate intervention should the results indicate the
outbreak of the virus in the area, “the governor said.
The State Chief Executive also revealed that intelligence has
intercepted a clandestine plan by some criminal elements led by Bobosky
to cause security breaches in the State by instigating violence and
burning down churches in Khana, Eleme, Gokana, Tai and Oyigbo Local
Government Areas of the State.
He assured all residents that the State Government is fully ready and
prepared to deal with the situation and continue to guarantee the
protection of lives and property throughout the State.
The Governor implored all residents to be vigilant and report all
suspicious characters and movements in their neighbourhoods to security
agencies.
“Leaders and vigilante groups in our communities are to work with the
security agencies to enforce curfew in their localities and arrest and
prosecute anyone that violates the curfew order.
“We urge our people to stop the fake news on social media; stop the
baseless bickering, the needless blame game, and the seditious rumours
that does no good to our image or provide any solution to the common
challenges that we face.
“Rather, we should all come together, put our fate in our own hands and
work for the common good of all, whether as individuals, families or as
communities,” he stated.
The Governor commended all health workers who have continued to put
their lives at risk in the forefront in the battle against COVID-19 .