Coronavirus: Fayemi, Oyetola announce lockdown in Ekiti, Osun

Ekiti Governor Kayode Fayemi

Governors Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti and Gboyega Oyetola of Osun have ordered a lockdown in their respective states.

Fayemi, in a broadcast on Sunday, imposed a ban on all commercial activities as well as intra-state travels, except for those bordering on essential services.

He said that anyone that violated the latest measures aimed at checking further spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the state, risked a six-month jail term.

He said: “It is therefore in urgent public interest that, I hereby, in pursuant to Section 8 of the Quarantine Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) impose a curfew of movement in Ekiti.

“The purpose of this curfew is to impose restrictions on the movement of persons and goods within Ekiti for an initial period of 14 days.

“Therefore, effective from 1:59 pm on Monday, March 30, 2020, until 11:59 pm on Monday, April 13, 2020, there shall be restriction of movement across the length and breadth of Ekiti, with all our borders closed.

“That is a full and total shutdown of Ekiti, and a 12-hour dusk to dawn curfew in Ekiti from 7:00 pm – 7:00 am. All Ekiti residents are hereby directed to stay at home.”

Also, in a statewide broadcast on Sunday in Osogbo, Oyetola said all land boundaries would be shut effective from midnight of Sunday.

The governor said during the period of lockdown there would be no inter-state movement.

Oyetola also said there would be no movement within the state as from March 31, adding that only those on essential duties such as health personnel, fire service, environmental officials, security personnel, media, power and water supply agencies, and telecommunication officers on duty would be allowed to move.

He said: “Following a review of our current situation, we have in addition to the subsisting measures taken in the past one week, decided to shut down all our boundaries, effective from midnight Sunday, March 29, 2020.

“We believe this is the way to go if we must contain the spread of this virus.

“To this end, we urge citizens and residents to take advantage of the hours between now and Tuesday to stock up provisions that will last them two weeks in the first instance.

“During the lockdown, there will be no movement within the state. The closed boundaries also mean there will be no inter-state movements.

“We have mandated and mobilised the state’s task force and security operatives to enforce measures to the letter.”