TheCable

Gboyega Oyetola, governor of Osun, has ordered the total lockdown of four local government areas (LGAs) in the state.

The LGAs affected are Ilesa east, Ilesa west, Atakumosa east and Atakumosa west.

The lockdown, which will begin on July 7, will run for seven days at first, but may be extended “if the compliance level is not encouraging”.

The directive was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by Funke Egbemode, the commissioner for information and civic orientation.

The lockdown order followed a meeting between the government and stakeholders from the area, and the state also said it was closely monitoring other LGAs with rising numbers of positive COVID-19 cases.

Meanwhile, the eased restriction on movement in other areas has been extended by two weeks.

“As you are all aware, the Federal Government, a few days ago, lifted the ban on inter-state travel in the country. We have, therefore, lifted ours too. But our relaxation guidelines still subsist except for four local government areas, namely; Ilesa West, Ilesa East, Atakumosa West and Atakumosa East Local Government Areas where we have now ordered a one-week lockdown, effective Tuesday, July 7,” the statement read.

“For the avoidance of doubt, our curfew will still run from 9pm to 5am daily in other parts of the state, except the locked-down LGAs.

“In furtherance to the above, for the other parts of the state, the ban on political, public, religious, and any kind of gathering under whatever guise remains in force, while worship centres must adhere strictly to government’s guidelines guiding their re-opening. Government will not hesitate to shut down any of the worship centres that violates our guidelines.

“For the four local government areas, all markets will remain shut. Only neighbourhood markets and pharmacies will be allowed to open.

“There must be strict adherence to stipulated physical distancing, the use of face masks, and observance of all other precautionary measures and established protocols of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

“To this end, we urge citizens and residents of the affected communities to take advantage of the hours between now and Monday to stock up provisions that will last them one week in the first instance.

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

The commissioner added that the decision to shut down a part of the state, “though painful, is the only way to go if it must arrest further spread of the virus”.

As of July 3, 2020, the state had confirmed 148 cases of COVID-19, out of which 59 recoveries and six deaths have been recorded.