Rivers State Government has cancelled the proposed lockdown of
\nObio\/Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas scheduled to resume
\ntomorrow.<\/p>\n
Governor Nyesom Wike who stated this in a state-wide broadcast also
\nannounced the imposition of 8p.m to 6am curfew in the 23 Local
\nGovernment Areas of the State with effect from June 2,2020 till further
\nnotice.<\/p>\n
The Governor also revealed that government has uncovered plans by some
\ncriminal elements led by one Bobosky to cause security breaches in
\nKhana, Eleme,Gokana, Tai, Oyigbo and Ikwerre Local Government Areas.<\/p>\n
“After a comprehensive review of the measures taken and further
\nconsiderations placed before us by well-meaning members of the public,
\nthe State Security Council has decided to cancel the proposed lockdown
\non Obio\/Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas of the State.<\/p>\n
“In essence, no part of Rivers State is or will be under any lockdown
\nfrom this moment and this will be so, except where it becomes necessary
\nagain.<\/p>\n
“As we all know, the regular washing of hands, religious wearing of face
\nmasks, keeping effective physical and social distance of between 1.5 to
\n2 meters from other people, completely avoiding touching of faces with
\nunwashed hands, and cleaning of surfaces we regularly touch have been
\nidentified as some of the most effective measures against contracting
\nthis virus in the absence of vaccine, ” he said.<\/p>\n
According to the Governor, government would re-enforce the decisions on
\nthe continuous implementation of the following measures throughout the
\nState:<\/p>\n
(i) All land borders, including all exit and entry routes into Rivers
\nState shall remain closed to human and vehicular traffic, except those
\non essential services and duly exempted.<\/p>\n
(ii) All residents must wear face masks or covering into any public
\nspace, including our roads, banks, shopping malls, shops, hotels and in
\nany lawful social gathering.<\/p>\n
(iii) The State task force and the security agencies have been directed
\nto arrest and summarily prosecute any person seen on our streets or any
\nother public place without wearing face masks.<\/p>\n
(iv) All banks, motor parks, hotels, restaurants, shops, business
\ncentres, shopping malls, and offices must maintain social distancing and
\nenforce the wearing of face masks in their premises.<\/p>\n
(v) The State task force and security agencies have been directed to
\nseal up, prosecute and confiscate to the State any bank, shopping mall,
\nrestaurant, shop, business place or office that fails to enforce social
\ndistancing and the wearing of face masks in its premises.<\/p>\n
(vi) In addition to providing daily guest list to the Police and the
\nDepartment of State Security, hoteliers must not host large gatherings,
\nincluding parties and receptions. Defaulting hotels will be sealed-up
\nand the owners summarily prosecuted.<\/p>\n
(vii) All bars, beer palours, or drinking joints, night-clubs, viewing
\ncentres, open markets and cinemas shall remain closed until further
\nnotice;<\/p>\n
(viii) Oil mill market in Obio\/Akpor Local Government Area shall remain
\nclosed until further notice;<\/p>\n
(ix) Oginigba Slaughter market in Obio\/Akpor Local Government Area shall
\nsimilarly remain closed until further notice.<\/p>\n
(x) Mbiama market in Ahoada West Local Government Area shall also remain
\nclosed until further notice;<\/p>\n
(xi) All public weddings, burials and large social gatherings shall
\nremain banned.<\/p>\n
(xii) Churches and other religious gatherings should continue to comply
\nwith the existing advisory on social distancing, initiate temperature
\nchecks and enforce the wearing of face masks during their activities;<\/p>\n
(xiii) Dealers in Ikoku Spare Parts markets are warned for the last time
\nto stop converting public roads to mechanic workshops or risk final
\nclosure.<\/p>\n
(xiv) Similarly, no mechanic workshop should be found along Ikwerre road
\nas Government will prosecute defaulters and confiscate any vehicle being
\nrepaired on any public road.<\/p>\n
(xv) Private and commercial vehicles, including tricycles must continue
\nto limit their passengers to the number earlier established and enforce
\nthe wearing of face masks by all passengers. Defaulters will be
\nprosecuted and their vehicles confiscated by the Task force.<\/p>\n
These measures, he said, are in the best interest of our State, to
\nprotect our lives, businesses, and jobs as well as, to prevent our
\ntroubled economy from suffering irreparable damage.<\/p>\n
“This also means that, residents now bear much greater responsibility to
\nstop and prevent our State from suffering the exponential and
\npotentially devastating spread of the virus being experienced across the<\/p>\n
“As 60% of the positive cases recorded in the State are connected with
\noil company workers, we have initiated a meeting with all the major oil
\ncompanies to work out strategies on how we can stop this trend and stop
\nthe risk this category of workers now pose to the State.<\/p>\n
“Government is also investigating the rumored or suspected outbreak of
\nthe coronavirus at Bonny Island.<\/p>\n
“Our team of medical personnel led by the Commissioner for Health has
\nvisited Bonny Island and collected samples from suspected cases for
\nanalysis and immediate intervention should the results indicate the
\noutbreak of the virus in the area, “the governor said.<\/p>\n
The State Chief Executive also revealed that intelligence has
\nintercepted a clandestine plan by some criminal elements led by Bobosky
\nto cause security breaches in the State by instigating violence and
\nburning down churches in Khana, Eleme, Gokana, Tai and Oyigbo Local
\nGovernment Areas of the State.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0 assured all residents that the State Government is fully ready and
\nprepared to deal with the situation and continue to guarantee the
\nprotection of lives and property throughout the State.<\/p>\n
The Governor implored all residents to be vigilant and report all
\nsuspicious characters and movements in their neighbourhoods to security
\nagencies.<\/p>\n
“Leaders and vigilante groups in our communities are to work with the
\nsecurity agencies to enforce\u00a0 curfew in their localities and arrest and
\nprosecute anyone that violates the curfew order.<\/p>\n
“We urge our people to stop the fake news on social media; stop the
\nbaseless bickering, the needless blame game, and the seditious rumours
\nthat does no good to our image or provide any solution to the common
\nchallenges that we face.<\/p>\n
“Rather, we should all come together, put our fate in our own hands and
\nwork for the common good of all, whether as individuals, families or as
\ncommunities,” he stated.<\/p>\n
The Governor commended all health workers who have continued to put
\ntheir lives at risk in the forefront in the battle against\u00a0 COVID-19 .<\/p>\n
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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":73661,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-73660","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n