News
COVID-19: Kaduna govt imposes curfew
Worried by the apparent refusal of the people of Kaduna State to comply with certain measures put in place to check the spread of COVID-19, the state government Thursday imposed curfew throughout the state.
The Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, who announced this in a statewide broadcast, said the decision was in line with the 1999 Constitution.
She said: “This is in exercise of the powers vested in the Governor by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria1999, (as amended), Sections 2 and 8 of the Quarantine Act 1926 and the Kaduna State Public Health Law of 1917.”
“Kaduna State has been declared a public health area, coronavirus is hereby declared as a dangerous, infectious disease within the meaning of the Quarantine Act.”
According to the deputy governor, the state Standing Committee on COVID-19 prevention met on Thursday to review global and national developments relating to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Committee also considered reports of unsatisfactory compliance levels with the preventive measures that have been outlined by the government in repeated announcements, and with increasing severity, over the past seven days.
“Apart from flouting the directive against large gatherings, there were also reports of certain persons not obeying the ban announced on motorcycle taxis and ‘Keke-Napep ’tricycles. As from midnight of Thursday, 26th March2020, all residents of Kaduna State must stay at home. No offices, businesses of any sort or places of worship are allowed to open.
‘’The only category of persons exempted are workers in essential services such as health workers, the fire service and security personnel,” she added.
READ ALSO: COVID-19: Kaduna govt begins fumigation of markets
Balarabe warned that the curfew would be strictly enforced by the security agencies, adding that ‘’they have clear directives for the immediate arrest and prosecution of any person that violates the measures. ‘’
‘’Churches and mosques will be shut, there will no congregational prayers or services either within these places of worship or outdoors.
‘’Wedding events and all social gatherings are strictly prohibited while these emergency measures remain in place,’’ she concluded.
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...
SPECIAL REPORT: Torturous experiences of students with disabilities in Oyo tertiary institutions
For students with disabilities in Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions, learning is a torturous and distressing experience, considering the building structures...