Ekiti state governor, Kayode Fayemi, has ordered a dusk- to-dawn curfew in the state for 14 days beginning from Monday, March 30.
The Herald gathered that Fayemi who made the disclosure on Sunday, March 29, said all residents must stay at home except those on essential services.
The governor also ordered total closure of all routes to the state. According to him, no offices, businesses of any sort or places of worship are allowed to open.
He said: “It is in urgent public interest that we must ensure strict compliance with all directives given to prevent community spreading of the disease.
“Therefore, in our collective interest and to further ensure the safety of Ekiti-kete, having declared Coronavirus an infectious disease in Ekiti State, I hereby, in pursuant to Section 8 of the Quarantine Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) impose a curfew of movement in Ekiti State.
“The purpose of this curfew is to impose restrictions on the movement of persons and goods within Ekiti State for an initial period of fourteen days. This is in order to prevent the spread of Coronavirus in Ekiti State.
“All boundaries of Ekiti State are closed during this period, except for transportation of fuel, food and drugs and other essential goods.
“All non-residents who arrive the State prior to, or after, the imposition of this restriction, and who remain in the State, must remain in their place of temporary residence in the State for the duration of the 14 days, as the case may be, and may be subjected to screening for COVID-19 and be quarantined or isolated if necessary.
“I have therefore been holding meetings with development partners, philanthropic bodies and federal agencies to assist us in preventing an outbreak in Ekiti State by providing access to some of the support available nationally. We have also set up an Ekiti State COVID-19 Pandemic Support Account with UBA Current Account Number 1022752067 for donations towards our efforts in this regard.
“Ekiti-kete, this indeed is a trying period, not only for our state or nation, but for the whole world. I therefore plead for your understanding and tolerance as we jointly fight and defeat this monster, COVID-19.
“As a government, to save the lives of Ekiti-kete is our topmost priority. Hence, it is my plea to you to continue staying wherever you are now within Ekiti State.
“The coming days are definitely going to be unusual and somewhat unpleasant, but if this is what it takes to ensure our collective safety, I urge you all to cooperate with the government and make the sacrifice.”