By Moses Gbande
Plateau state government Wednesday lifted the lockdown imposed on the state as a pragmatic effort of government in preventing the COVID-19 pandemic from entering the state.
The state Governor, Rt Hon. Dr. Simon Bako Lalong in a state wide broadcast says beginning from 11pm, Wednesday 15th April 2020, to 12 midnight of Sunday 19th April 2020, the total lockdown will be relaxed to enable people go out to restock their homes.
By implication, according to the governor, the earlier restriction prior to the total lockdown remains.
”For the avoidance of doubt, all other markets remain closed except those selling food items, pharmaceuticals and cooking gas. In addition, all illegal street trading, street hawking, and begging are prohibited. The illegal Sunday markets on Ahmadu Bello Way, Bukuru and environs remain banned. Social joints, Nightclubs, drinking parlours are to remain closed, while restaurants are advised to prepare take away for their customers to avoid crowding”
The Governor directed Motor parks to capture and keep data including contacts of all inbound and outbound passengers as well as adhere strictly to social distancing and mass gathering prohibition order as well as hygiene regulations.
” Vehicles (Keke Napep, Cars and Buses) are to abide by restriction on the number of passenger to carry, which have been spelled out as 1, 4 and 6 respectively.
“Places of worship are to strictly adhere to the 50 persons provision, while maintaining social distancing and hygiene regulations. The ban on all anniversaries and cultural festivals remains in force.
“All entry and exit borders into the State will remain closed with greater reinforcement and CCTV surveillance to ensure total compliance.
“Anybody who violates this border closure and comes into Plateau will be arrested, prosecuted and quarantined for 14 days until it is confirmed that he/she is free of the disease.
ix. Farmers, particularly in the rural areas are exempted from the restrictions, as they are required to go to their farms now that the rains have started. However, they are to observe all guidelines for social distancing and hygiene.
“In addition to the exemption of essential workers earlier announced, producers of food such as bread, water and beverages are also exempted.
“The mobile courts are to remain in place to try violators of Government directives.
” To address cases of sharp practices, human rights violations and compromise by some security personnel, Government has set up a high-powered Independent Intelligence Monitoring Team, which will report directly to me”.
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