Oyetola extends lockdown …Orders resumption of Level 12 officers from May 4

The Osun State governor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola has extended the statewide lockdown for three days as part of measure to curb the spread of coronavirus in the state.

This follows the expiration of the second stint of two weeks lockdown which lapses on the 30th of April, 2020.

The governor during a statewide broadcast on Thursday night announced the new measures to take in curbing the spread of the virus in the State.

He said to avoid escalating community transmission, his administration reviewed the lockdown which terminates at midnight of today, Thursday, 30th April, to strike a midway without unnecessarily putting the lives of our people and the economy of the State at risk.

His words: “The following rules shall apply in line with the recommendations of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the approval of Mr. President and our peculiar situation:

“There shall be 3 days lockdown extension, with effect from 11.59 PM on Thursday, 30th April till Sunday, 3rd May. All the prevailing lockdown conditions shall subsist during this period.

“Effective from Monday, 4th May 2020, the following rules shall be enforced: There shall be partial lockdown between 6 am and 5 pm from Monday to Thursday to enable the people to go about their businesses and allow the government to run. However, the total lockdown shall be in force from 6 pm on Thursday to Sunday.

“There shall also be a dusk to dawn curfew from 6 pm – 6 am from Monday to Thursday until further notice. Movement of vehicle and persons is outlawed during the period of the curfew except for verified medical emergency cases and those on essential duties. Also, the ban on public, religious, political, and educational gatherings remains in force.  Additionally, all major markets shall remain shut.”

He warned that citizens must observe social distancing, hand-washing, and wearing of masks at all times in public places. Defaulters shall be sanctioned accordingly.

Businesses are expected to provide liquid soap and running water and hand sanitisers, while supermarkets should not have more than 10 persons at any time in their store.

He further, “Inter-state travels are forbidden and as such, our boundaries remain closed.

For the avoidance of doubt, there shall be no vehicular and human movement into and out of the State except trucks carrying medicals, beverages, foods, petroleum, construction, and agriculture supplies. These supply vehicles shall not carry more than 3 persons.

Intra-city commercial transportation will be permitted to work from Monday to Thursday every week from 6 am to 5 pm, but they are required to adhere to strict social distancing directives. Commercial vehicles, that is: buses and taxis shall carry two passengers per row with each passenger sitting at the extreme end of the vehicle. While commercial motorcycles (Okada) shall carry one passenger, tricycles shall carry not more than 2 passengers and no passenger in front.

He warned that violators of the aforementioned directives will be prosecuted in accordance with the laws of the State.

Officers and staff on Grade Level 12 and above, Administrative Officers irrespective of their grade levels, those on essential services, and those whose services may be required by the Accounting Officers are to report at their desks, Monday to Thursday at the usual working hours. They must adhere strictly to the protocols of the NCDC. He said.