“Lagos State’s situation is well understood. By the grace of God, we do not have any case on covid-19 yet, but if it does come, we will take more drastic measures. People have been advised to stay indoor more, no handshake, keep personal hygiene, use hand sanitizer, and please stay away from social outing. Now, because, the state government has not pronounced ban on social gathering does not mean, the state government will not. We may get to banning soon. No case yet, and we are prepared: like the four isolation centres, Oghara Teaching hospital, Federal Medical centre, Asaba, likewise Warri. And other 11 centres across the state. The government have intention to ban social gathering soon; we are watching situation, and once we get there, we will but for now, we have not gotten there yet” This was the reaction of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, who spoke with our Editor-in-Chief, last night through his Chief Press Secretary.
By Daniel Njienue, March 24, 2020, News/Comments.
ASABA-Speaking with Afrikanwatch Network last night, is the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Delta State, Olisa Ifeajika on a telephone conversation, who said that the government is taking further steps to curtail the possible outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus in the state, which Lagos, Abuja, Ekiti, Edo and Oyo now have. Ifeajika, who reacted to why the government is reluctant to ban public and social gathering in the state, just as Rivers, Bayelsa, and Edo have done in the South, noted that situations determine any action, and because government have not announced ban does not mean, it wouldn’t. His words
“You cannot compare the ban of social gathering in other states witnessing coronavirus, or (covid-19) to Delta State. The full broadcast on coronavirus by the state governor was on last week Thursday, and the position of the state was made clear. Comparing the state government of not banning social gatherings like others is not correct. States differ on what happens there, and we are taking it stage by stage for now. By the grace of God, Delta does not have any case yet”
The Chief Press Secretary, noted that measures are already in place, and the state government is taking things gradually, so that things do not get out of hand, but there will be outright ban soon. Continuing, he stressed, “the important things is to advise Deltans, which the government is doing by asking that, proactive measures should be taken by all, like social distance, minimum gathering, and worship in a very small numbers; schools have been shut down and the last day for them all to go home is Thursday, this must be complied with”.
Asked why the delay of banning, Ifeajika reiterated further “What you are asking is like, since other states have banned social gathering, they should also ban market, so that nobody goes to the market anymore. We have to look at situation, what case do we hand at hand, what method should be adopted. You can just say that other states have banned social gatherings based on their own situation “he added.
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