Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has announced a total lockdown and dusk to dawn curfew on Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas to curtail the spread of the coronavirus in the State.

In a broadcast on Monday, Governor Wike stated that the complete lockdown starts from Thursday, May 7 until further notice.

He said: "on no account should there be any vehicular movements or gathering of more than two persons in these Local Government Areas, except those on essential services with appropriate authorization;

"All shops, trading or business activities, including currency exchange, in these Local Government Areas must also remain closed until further notice.

Governor Wike urged all house owners to ensure that no trading activity is carried out on their property or risk losing their property to the government. 

"All Landlords are advised to ensure that no shop or trading activity is opened or carried out in or around their premises or risk the confiscation of their property by the Government."

"Any person, group or institution that violates the lockdown and curfew in these Local Government Areas will be made to face the full wrath of the law."

The Rivers State government has also reviewed all entry waivers and permits earlier granted to Oil and Gas companies.  

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Referencing the recent Covid -19 case who was flown into Port Harcourt by Bristow Helicopters from an offshore oil field facility in Akwa Ibom State on the April 29, Wike said these positive cases prove that Oil and Gas workers remain a potential source for the importation and spread of Coronavirus to the state. 

Therefore, the Rivers State government has reviewed all entry waivers and permits earlier granted to Oil and Gas Companies.

Henceforth, requests for waivers and entry permits from oil and gas companies will be considered on a case by case basis.

The Rivers State Government declared: 

"(i) from now on, requests for waivers and entry permits from oil and gas companies will be considered on a case by case basis;

"(ii) all inward-bound vehicles and flights into Rivers State from oil and gas companies with workers for crew change or other essential operations must first submit details of their manifests to the State's taskforce on COVID-19 for proper vetting of their virus status before they can be allowed to enter the State;

"(iii) all operators of chartered flights into Rivers State for oil and gas operations, especially Bristow and Caverton Helicopters, should please comply with this directive and refrain from jeopardizing the lives of our people for the sake of making profits.