Violators of inter-state travel ban arrested in front of my office, says Governor Dapo Abiodun

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has disclosed that four violators of the inter-state travel order were arrested in front of his office in Abeokuta, expressing worry on how the travelers from the northern part of the country managed to beat all the security barricades along the state borders

Penpushing reports that, Abiodun made this known at a press conference on Friday while giving update on the coronavirus pandemic, stressing that the level of compliance with the laid down precautionary measures in the fight against the virus is not yet at the desired level.

The Governor disclosed that those apprehended for flouting the presidential order on lockdown were discovered to have entered the state from Kontagora, Niger State and caught on Monday at his doorstep

‘However, I must say that the level of compliance with the laid- down precautionary measures in the fight against COVID-19 is not yet at the desired level. Some people still flagrantly flout the Presidential ban on inter-State travel for non-essential services and the daily night curfew’.

‘For example, four people from Kotangora, Niger State, were intercepted right in front of the Governor’s Office, here at Abeokuta on Monday, this week. What is worrisome is how they managed to beat all the security barricades along the state borders and within the States that they passed through before getting into our dear State’, he added.

Penpushing further reports that, in similar vein, the Governor lamented that, nineteen  nationals from Togo and Ivory-Coast were intercepted after crossing into Ogun State, nay Nigeria through illegal land border routes on Wednesday,adding that they are being quarantined at Idi-Iroko, pending repatriation back to their countries.

‘Whilst we are battling with internal migration, the immigrants from outside the country through our international land borders have also not given up, despite the closure of international borders. Nineteen (19) nationals from Togo and Ivory-Coast were intercepted after crossing into Ogun State, nay Nigeria through illegal land border routes on Wednesday. They are being quarantined at Idi-Iroko, pending repatriation back to their countries’.

The Governor declared that, in view of this development, the government is constrained to take  painful but necessary decision to continue the eased lockdown of Ogun State for another one week till Sunday, 31st, May, 2020.

‘ I have to state that after all considerations, we are constrained to take the painful but necessary decision to continue the eased lockdown of Ogun State for another one week till Sunday, 31st, May, 2020’’, he declared.

‘As we have always maintained the delicate balance between lives and livelihood, we will continue to have our window of relaxation, from 7am to 5pm on Monday, 25th May, 2020; Wednesday, 27th May, 2020 and Friday, 29th May, 2020. We must also bear in mind that the daily curfew from 8pm to 6am and the ban on non-essential inter-State travel as directed by Mr. President still stand’.

The Governor added that, government  approach of increased testing capacity and faster turn-around of results is yielding the desired result of tracking the prevalence of the spread of the virus, particularly in our border communities.

‘It is note worthy to mention that the team from Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) arrived today to certify our molecular laboratory in Sagamu, this laboratory should be available for use in the next few days. This will further boost our testing capacity from the current 450 tests to 600 tests per day. We will continue to be guided by science and data which has allowed us to model the prevalence of the spread of the virus, anticipate and prepare accordingly’.