Rivers State Government has cancelled the proposed lockdown of
Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas scheduled to resume
on Wednesday.
Governor Nyesom Wike who stated
this in a state-wide broadcast on Tuesday also announced the imposition
of 8p.m to 6am curfew in the 23 Local Government Areas of the State with
effect from June 2,2020 till further notice.
The
Governor revealed that government has uncovered plans by some criminal
elements led by one Bobosky to cause security breaches in Khana,
Eleme,Gokana, Tai, Oyigbo and Ikwerre Local Government Areas.
“After
a comprehensive review of the measures taken and further considerations
placed before us by well-meaning members of the public, the State
Security Council has decided to cancel the proposed lockdown on
Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas of the State.
“In
essence, no part of Rivers State is or will be under any lockdown from
this moment and this will be so, except where it becomes necessary
again.
“As we all know, the regular washing of
hands, religious wearing of face masks, keeping effective physical and
social distance of between 1.5 to 2 meters from other people, completely
avoiding touching of faces with unwashed hands, and cleaning of
surfaces we regularly touch have been identified as some of the most
effective measures against contracting this virus in the absence of
vaccine, ” he said.
According
to the Governor, government would re-enforce the decisions on the
continuous implementation of the following measures throughout the
State:
(i) All land borders, including all exit
and entry routes into Rivers State shall remain closed to human and
vehicular traffic, except those on essential services and duly exempted.
(ii)
All residents must wear face masks or covering into any public space,
including our roads, banks, shopping malls, shops, hotels and in any
lawful social gathering.
(iii) The State task
force and the security agencies have been directed to arrest and
summarily prosecute any person seen on our streets or any other public
place without wearing face masks.
(iv) All
banks, motor parks, hotels, restaurants, shops, business centres,
shopping malls, and offices must maintain social distancing and enforce
the wearing of face masks in their premises.
(v)
The State task force and security agencies have been directed to seal
up, prosecute and confiscate to the State any bank, shopping mall,
restaurant, shop, business place or office that fails to enforce social
distancing and the wearing of face masks in its premises.
(vi)
In addition to providing daily guest list to the Police and the
Department of State Security, hoteliers must not host large gatherings,
including parties and receptions. Defaulting hotels will be sealed-up
and the owners summarily prosecuted.
(vii) All
bars, beer palours, or drinking joints, night-clubs, viewing centres,
open markets and cinemas shall remain closed until further notice;
(viii) Oil mill market in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area shall remain closed until further notice;
(ix) Oginigba Slaughter market in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area shall similarly remain closed until further notice.
(x) Mbiama market in Ahoada West Local Government Area shall also remain closed until further notice;
(xi) All public weddings, burials and large social gatherings shall remain banned.
(xii)
Churches and other religious gatherings should continue to comply with
the existing advisory on social distancing, initiate temperature checks
and enforce the wearing of face masks during their activities;
(xiii)
Dealers in Ikoku Spare Parts markets are warned for the last time to
stop converting public roads to mechanic workshops or risk final
closure.
(xiv) Similarly, no mechanic workshop
should be found along Ikwerre road as Government will prosecute
defaulters and confiscate any vehicle being repaired on any public road.
(xv)
Private and commercial vehicles, including tricycles must continue to
limit their passengers to the number earlier established and enforce the
wearing of face masks by all passengers. Defaulters will be prosecuted
and their vehicles confiscated by the Task force.
These
measures, he said, are in the best interest of our State, to protect
our lives, businesses, and jobs as well as, to prevent our troubled
economy from suffering irreparable damage.