Rivers State Governor Announces Indefinite Lockdown In Parts Of Port Harcourt And Obio/Akpor LGAs

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has announced a lockdown of parts of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas in view of the failure of residents of the affected areas to comply with the regulations of the State Government to check the spread of coronavirus.

In a State Broadcast on Monday, Governor Wike stated that the complete lockdown starts from Tuesday 28 April 2020, till further notice.

He said: “In view of the non or passive compliance with these measures, it has become compelling to also place the following parts of Port Harcourt and Obio/AkporLocal Government Areas on 24 hours complete lockdown, beginning from Tuesday 28 April 2020, till further notice:

(i) Elekahia, including the entire stretch of Rumukalagbor-Elekahia link road;

(ii) Rumuomasi, including Stadium road; and

(iii) Rumuobiokani.

“(iv) All residents in these areas must stay at home. All shops, mini-markets, officesand business outfits in these areas must also cease to operate until further notice.

“(v) Landlords in these areas must take personal responsibility to enforce this lockdown as we will not hesitate to pull down any commercial building or structure that opens to business in violation of this specific directive.”

Governor Wike added: “We are also watching the conduct of residents and traders in Rumuokoro, Rumuokurusiand Oyigbowho are refusing to adhere to the Government’s ban and restrictions on business and social gathering in the State.

“We appeal to the leaders of these communities to enforce the established restrictions or risk the imposition of a total lockdown on their communities.”

Governor Wike berated security agencies for allowing travellers to enter and leave the state at will despite the closure of the state’s borders.

He said: “These unscrupulous security officers are deliberately putting our State and the lives of our people at risk as our health system can hardly cope, should there be a surge in COVID-19 cases.

“To contain this threat therefore, we will be inaugurating the State’s Taskforce on Border Closure on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 to effectively monitor our boundaries and ensure that no unauthorized person and or vehicle leaves or enters our State under any guise in breach of the lockdown order.”

Governor Wike directed the State Commissioner for Social Welfare to round up and deport all vagrants to their state of origin.

He said: “We have also directed the Commissioner of Social Welfare to round-up and deport all vagrants, including the almajiris, to their States of origin to protect our people from the threat they present to the transmission of this pandemic.

Governor Wike berated security agencies for allowing travellers to enter and leave the state at will despite the closure of the state’s borders.

He said: “These unscrupulous security officers are deliberately putting our State and the lives of our people at risk as our health system can hardly cope, should there be a surge in COVID-19 cases.

“To contain this threat therefore, we will be inaugurating the State’s Taskforce on Border Closure on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 to effectively monitor our boundaries and ensure that no unauthorized person and or vehicle leaves or enters our State under any guise in breach of the lockdown order.”