Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Senator Tela, briefing journalists at Government House, Bauchi
By Baba Shehu Oscu, Bauchi
As people’s oriented government and considering Bauchi as civil service State where only recently business activities began to take shape , the Bauchi state government has decided to review the initial lockdown order it imposed on the state earlier in the week due to lack of palliative measures for the citizens during the stay at home period.
Briefing journalists at the Government House on Thursday, the Chairman of the State Outbreak Response Committee on Lassa Fever and COVID-19, the state Deputy Governor Senator Baba Tela, announced that the lockdown order will now involve only closure of entry points into Bauchi state.
“Having observed that no palliative measures have been introduced to cushion the effects of the lockdown, we must address the process in a manner that does not create harm or social dislocation. “Consequently, we are putting emphasizes on borders so that unsuspected carriers of the virus do not infiltrate and spread the virus,” he said.
Apex News Exclusive reports that the committee under the chairmanship of the state Deputy Governor had earlier placed a 14-day shutdown order in the state with effect from 6pm on April 2.
Some COVID-19 items for distribution
But, considering the hardship the order may subject the people of the state to, due to lack of palliative measures, government reviewed the lockdown order, limiting it to the closure of borders to stop any foreign body into the states.
The deputy governor stressed that out of the over 95 samples tested, only three have been confirmed positive, adding that the first two persons will soon be discharged after the 14-day isolation.
The decision to review the lockdown order in a relaxed manner according to the deputy governor came after due consultations with opinion leaders, statesmen, religious and traditional leaders, the security agencies and healthcare professionals among others. He said further that “taking cognizance of the fact that majority of the people normally find sustenance by the day, government reviewed the restriction in line with present challenges.”
Tela said the restriction of movements of people in towns and villages have been eased, adding that “crucial step in combating the pandemic has to do with managing our people.The lockdown is essentially meant to address that.
“One point must be abundantly clear, this lockdown is not a shutdown, it is a process that is meant to ensure social distancing in a manner that we do not by way of congestion in markets and other densely populated areas expose ourselves to the infection.”
The deputy governor who said that the social distancing is to be maintained in mosques and churches, markets, weddings and all social gathering, appealed to members of the public to show greater understanding and cooperation with law- enforcement agencies to fight the pandemic.
He disclosed that in order to compliment the state efforts in providing palliative measures during the period, a company based in Bauchi known as the Tramai Rice Company has donated 3, 600 bags of rice worth N34 million to the state government. He also revealed that the North East Development Commision and the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control also assisted the state with consumables that include 1,800 personal protection commodities, two ventilators, surgical gloves, face masks and hand sanitizers.
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