The Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, has ordered a total lock-down in four local government areas of the state.
On Saturday in a statement the announcement was made by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode.
The affected local government areas include, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Atakumosa East, and Atakumosa West. And the lock-down is expected to commence from Tuesday, July 7 for one week. While the relaxation in other areas of the state has been extended by two weeks.
Mrs Egbemode explained that the lock-down has been set in other to curb the spread of coronavirus in the state. ”Under the lock-down, there would be no vehicular movement within the affected areas. Only those on essential duties such as health worker, fire service, environmental officials, security personnel, power and water supply agencies, media and telecommunication officers will be allowed to move”.
Mrs. Egbemode also revealed that interstate travel to and within the affected communities and to other parts of the State is banned during the period of the lock-down, warning that violators of the lock-down order will be severely dealt with. “As you are all aware, the Federal Government, a few days ago lifted the ban on interstate travel in the country. We have, therefore, lifted ours too. But our relaxation guidelines still subsists except for four local government areas, which are; Ilesa West, Ilesa East, Atakumosa West and Atakumosa East Local Government areas where we have now ordered a one-week lock-down, effective from Tuesday, July 7. 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. 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 mobilized the state’s task force and security operatives to strictly enforce the measures. 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 in the state,” she added.
The commissioner further stated that the ban on political, public, religious, and any kind of gatherings under whatever guise remains in force, while worship centers must adhere strictly to government’s guidelines guiding their re-opening. Government will not hesitate to shut down any of the worship centers that violates our guidelines.
