Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state has extended the COVID-19 lockdown in the northern state by thirty days, POLITICS NIGERIA reports.
The governor made this known in a series of tweets via the state government’s Twitter handle on Sunday evening.
El-Rufai said the lockdown extension takes effect from Sunday, 26th April 2020. He added that the decision to extend the lockdown follows a recommendation by the state Committee on COVID19.
The governor said only Wednesdays has been approved as lockdown-free day until the state records lower Covid-19 infections.
He, however, said mobile courts have been empowered to try violators and impose the prescribed penalties, including fines, imprisonment and forfeiture of vehicles, upon conviction.
“Malam Nasir @elrufai has extended the quarantine orders in the state for another 30 days, effective from 26th April 2020. The decision follows a recommendation to that effect by the State Standing Committee on Covid-19, chaired by @DrHadizaBalarabe
“With Covid-19 cases rising rapidly in neighbouring states and the FCT, and with strong evidence of interstate travel being a major means of spreading the virus, the Standing Committee’s evaluation is that measures to protect Kaduna State residents require further strengthening…
“Malam Nasir @elrufai has endorsed this evaluation. Quarantine Orders have been reviewed to strengthen the provisions against unauthorised movements. Henceforth, only Wednesdays will be lockdown-free, until the trajectory of Covid-19 infections becomes clearer.
“All persons that venture out of their homes for whatever reason must wear facemasks and observe social distancing everywhere they go, in markets and in authorised vehicles. Government is making efforts to provide facemasks for poor and vulnerable residents in the state,” the statement read in parts.
