In a move to check the spread of coronavirus to Rivers State,\u00a0 the State
\nGovernment on Wednesday announced that air , sea and land routes into
\nthe state will be closed to traffic, beginning 6pm, Thursday,\u00a0 March 26,
\n2020.<\/p>\n
In a broadcast on Wednesday,\u00a0 Rivers State Governor,\u00a0 Nyesom Ezenwo Wike
\nsaid that the measure became necessary in view of recent developments.<\/p>\n
He said: “It is with gratitude to God that I announce to you that our
\nState would have been infected with coronavirus yesterday,\u00a0 but for the
\nvigilance of security agents who,\u00a0 acting on a tip- off prevented an
\ninfected person from boarding a flight from Abuja to Port Harcourt.<\/p>\n
“The infected person beat all security measures that were put in place
\nat the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Abuja and was to
\nsneak into Port Harcourt before security agents stopped her.<\/p>\n
“Based on this alarming Information,\u00a0 the State Security Council met
\nyesterday and reviewed measures already put in place and decided that
\nthere was urgent need to adopt stringent measures to protect those
\nliving and doing business in the state from the virus.<\/p>\n
“The council has therefore taken the following painful decisions:<\/p>\n
1. With effect from 6pm on Thursday,\u00a0 March 26, 2020 , the Port Harcourt
\nInternational Airport,\u00a0 Omagwa will not be open to air traffic. While we
\nmay not have the right to stop flights from entering Port Harcourt,\u00a0 we
\ncannot allow anybody coming from the airport to enter our State. We are
\nconfident that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and
\nother federal agencies will cooperate with us.<\/p>\n
2. All Land and Sea Borders will be closed.<\/p>\n
3. Vehicular movements in an out of the state have been banned. In
\nessence no vehicle will leave Rivers State for any other State and no
\nvehicle will be allowed to enter the state.<\/p>\n
Governor Wike said that the new measures will be in place till further
\nnotice.<\/p>\n
He noted:\u00a0 “Let me reiterate that the situation we are facing requires
\ndrastic measures because coronavirus has ravaged many countries.<\/p>\n
“Security Agencies have been empowered to strictly enforce\u00a0 this
\ndirective. There will be no room for sacred cows because the virus is no
\nrespecter of persons.<\/p>\n
“May I once again call for the support and understanding of everyone
\nliving and doing business in Rivers State to help the relevant
\nGovernment Agencies implement these measures to check the spread of
\ncoronavirus to the state.”<\/p>\n
The Rivers State Governor added: “At this time in our national life, we
\nmust shun primordial sentiments and face the reality on ground.
\n“I am confident that God being on our side , the temporary hardship we
\nare facing today will come to an end very soon.”
\nGovernor Wike recounted earlier measures taken by the Rivers State
\nGovernment to tackle coronavirus , emphasising that they were still in
\nforce.
\nHe said: “In that broadcast,\u00a0 I announced the setting up of Surveillance
\nPosts at our land and sea borders, beginning from Tuesday,\u00a0 March 24,
\n2020.<\/p>\n
“I also informed you that after due consultations with Religious
\nLeaders,\u00a0 all forms of open worship including crusades and vigils were
\nbanned.<\/p>\n
“Public Burials and weddings were prohibited,\u00a0 while public parks,
\nnight clubs and Cinemas were directed to close down.”<\/p>\n
In a move to check the spread of coronavirus to Rivers State,\u00a0 the State Government on Wednesday announced that air , sea and land routes into the state will be…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":72528,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-72527","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n