As the country continues to record daily increase in cases of Covid-19, the Nasarawa State Government on the other hand, is not leaving any stone unturned in an effort to ensure that the state does not record any case of the disease.
Nasarawa state is among the few states in Nigeria that are yet to record any case of Covid-19.
The state government initially declared a two-week lockdown on Karu Local Government area because of its proximity to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Recall that the FCT has recorded many cases of the disease. In fact, it is next to the Lagos, the epicenter.
The two-week lockdown expired last Thursday. However, the state government has, based on its wisdom, extended the lockdown and imposed restriction of movement on all urban centres in the state by additional 10 days.
At a recent press conference in Lafia, Governor Sule assured that his government would make more palliatives available to residents of the state in order to cushion the hardship occasioned by the lockdown and the restriction of movement.
According to the governor, the extension of the lockdown became necessary following recent statistics which indicated an increase in the spread of COVID-19 in 20 states and the FCT.
Engineer Sule described the spread of the pandemic in the country as frightening, stressing that the situation not only called for more prayers, but concerted effort aimed at strengthening all measures taken in order to prevent the spread of the virus to Nasarawa State.
“Accordingly, as the two weeks of lockdown on Karu LGA and the restriction of movement in our major urban centres comes to an end, it has become imperative for government to consider the necessity for extending the duration of the lockdown by additional 10 days.
“This is in our collective commitment to continue to control and contain the spread of the virus in our dear state,” the governor stated.
Realizing the hardship residents have been exposed to as a result of the restriction on movement, the Governor explained that his administration had distributed rice across the 13 local government areas to cushion the effect of the restriction order.
“We will also continue to work very hard, in ensuring that we are able to get more palliatives for our people.
“And I assure you that in the next few days, you will continue to see more palliatives coming to the people of Nasarawa State,” he reiterated.
Engineer Sule, however, announced an adjustment for residents of Karu LGA who, according to him, are now allowed to buy essential commodities in shops within their neighbourhoods on Wednesdays and Saturdays between the hours of 10am to 2pm.
Meanwhile, the curfew imposed in all urban areas of the state between the hours of 8pm to 6am daily still remains. Similarly, all social gatherings including weddings and naming ceremonies in the state remain suspended. Civil servants from Grade Level 01-12 are to continue working from home, except those involved in rendering essential services.
While noting that security patrol will be intensified to ensure full compliance to the proclamations made to curb the spread of COVID-19, the Governor disclosed that mobile courts have been established to prosecute defaulters in accordance with the law.
The Governor called on Task Force Committees established at the local government levels under the supervision of local government Chairmen to continue to ensure strict compliance with the order restricting movement in their various localities.
