COVID-19: Bauchi Govt. Suspends 14 Days Lockdown
BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – The Bauchi State Government has announced the suspension of the lockdown earlier for the state which was expected to restrict movement of people within the state for a period of 14 days as part of measures to check spread of the COVID-19 infection.
The review of the lockdown was announced on Thursday by the State Deputy Governor, Senator Baba Tela while addressing journalists at the Government House, Bauchi.
Tela said that the suspension of the lockdown followed consultation with opinion leaders, statesmen, Ulamas and Clergies, security forces, healthcare professionals and taking into cognizance of the fact that majority of the people find sustenance on a daily basis.
He also said that part of the reason for th suspension is based on the fact that government did not make any arrangement for palliative to assuage the hardship to be experienced during the total lockdown.
Tela however said that although, all entry borders into the state will be closed for an initial period of the 14 days effective from 6pm this Thursday and therefore advised people to ensure that they maintained the social distancing practice.
The deputy governor, who is the Chairman of the State Task Force Committee on COVID-19 and Lassa fever, said that social distance should also be maintained in mosques, churches, markets, weddings and other social ceremonies.
Tela expressed dismay that traders in the state have taken the advantage of the lockdown to increase the prices of their commodities and called on them to refrain from such acts.
He further said; “A crucial step in combating the pandemic is to do with managing our people, the lockdown is essentially meant to address that.
“One point must be made abundantly clear that this lockdown is not shutdown. It is a process that is meant to ensure social distancing in a manner that we do not, by way of congestion in markets and other densely populated areas, expose ourselves to infection.”
“Government having observed that no palliative measures have been introduced to cushion the effects of the lockdown, we must address the process in a manner that does not create harm or social dislocation.”
Tela also said that the state government is putting more emphasis on locking the state’s borders so that unsuspecting carriers of the virus do not infiltrate or spread.
According to him; “We want to appeal to the public that even as we relax these measures, we urge our citizens to show greater understanding and cooperation with law enforcement agencies to help us manage this emergency.
“I wish to state that, His Excellency, the Executive Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed CON is very much concerned about the health and well-being of our citizens. He has asked me to request you to continue to pray for our state to be free from the scourge of this disease.”
