Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State has threatened to impose a state-wide curfew should enforcement of emergency measures fail to contain the outbreak of coronavirus which has already affected several states in the country.
This is just as the governor, in a state broadcast has asked civil servants from level 12 and below to stay at home for the next 30 days effective from March 24, 2020.
The governor said his government “Has decided to move from advice to actual enforcement of its restrictions on large gatherings, especially in churches and mosques. Security agencies have been directed to ensure compliance across the state.
“These agencies will also enforce compliance with the decision to close all schools, whether public or private, religious or secular, Islamiya or run by Christian missions.”
The state government, he said, “Will not hesitate to impose a statewide curfew, should that become the only way to enforce compliance and make everyone understand the collective danger that we face.
“The emphasis on prevention is the only logical thing to do because our health system cannot cope with an outbreak of Covid-19.
It is better to impose restrictions and save lives, than to be complacent and bury victims. Countries that have hesitated to impose extraordinary measures to contain coronavirus are now regretting.
We have a chance to avoid such mistakes.”
He said, “Therefore, we reiterate the advise for people to stay at home and avoid moving around, unless it becomes necessary.
Every trip should be postponed until this pandemic is curtailed.
“Only those who are alive can travel. Keep yourself and others safe by staying in one place. To this end, we have contacted the relevant federal authorities to stop the Abuja-Kaduna train service and thus limit the danger from contact on the train and influx from people who might have been exposed to infected persons.
“At a time of danger, non-essential travel is a dangerous luxury and there is no point pretending that we are in normal times. I want to urge all citizens who recently returned from travel overseas to please self-isolate for 14 days.”
El-Rufai added that “any symptoms of cough, fever or difficulty in breathing should be reported to the following numbers: 08025088304, 08032401473, 08035871662 and 08037808191
“Further to this necessity to minimise movement, the Kaduna State Government is directing civil servants from Level 12 and below to remain at home for the next 30 days, effective from Tuesday, 24th March 2020.
“Workers providing essential services, especially in the health, security and emergency service sectors are exempt from this directive. We urge every other person to stay at home and avoid unnecessary travel.”
Markets, he said, constitute a source of large gatherings. “To manage this in the interim, only traders selling food and medicines are permitted to open their shops, effective from Tuesday, 24th March 2020. This directive will be vigorously enforced by the security agencies and the Kaduna Markets Development and Management Company which will also ensure that all markets are fumigated.”
