COVID-19: Ogun State Shuts down Borders.
The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has announced the closure of its borders with the neighbouring states and the international border with the Republic of Benin. This decision takes effect from Sunday, March 29th, 2020 and would run through the next two weeks.
This instruction means all movement in and out of the state is temporarily banned as the state government intensify efforts to combat and curtail the spread of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor issued a statement today in the State's capital and he emphasised that the border closure was imposed to curb the spread of the rampant disease from spreading not just in Nigeria, but all over the world.
“The position of Ogun State is peculiar. It not only shares an international border with the Republic of Benin, it does so with all other states in the South West (except Ekiti), including Lagos State, which has understandably recorded the highest number of infections in the country largely because it hosts the busiest air and sea ports and it’s the nation’s economic capital.''
“The border closure will not only be beneficial to Ogun State but the national efforts to curtail and contain the virus. Lessons from other climes strongly indicate that closure of borders has the potential to drastically flatten the curve of spread whilst unrestricted movement portends grave dangers”, Governor Abidoun further explained.''
The only exceptions to the interstate travel ban are vehicles conveying people in security agencies, health workers, food and medical items and petroleum products.
The Statement admonished citizens to cooperate with the security agencies who have been fully briefed and directed to effect the closure, noting that at this period of a global pandemic and national emergency all hands must be on deck to slow down the spread of COVID-19.
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