Enforcement of social restriction order has started in Anambra State in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus into the state and this is going simultaneously with full-scale monitoring of borders
The social restriction order issued by both the federal and the state governments is being enforced by the State Police Command.
In a statement made available to journalists in Awka on Thursday, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Mohammed Haruna, described the pandemic as a disease that kills, and therefore urged the people of the state to stay at home to stay alive.
He said that all public gatherings, night clubs and bars, traditional marriages, community festivals, masquerade festivals, funeral/burial ceremonies, baby christening, title ceremonies and any meeting of more than 30 persons have been suspended forthwith till further notice.
Mohammed also urged all academic and non-academic institutions, vocational, Nursery, Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Schools, whether public, private or mission owned to vacate immediately.
He added that no academic or extra-curricular activities will be allowed, warning that schools and other facilities that fail to shut down voluntarily will be forced to comply accordingly.
The statement partly reads: “The Anambra State Police Command in compliance with the directives of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, which is also in line with the guidelines and directives issued by both the Federal and Anambra State Governments in order to contain the spread of COVID-19, the Police has commenced enforcement of social restriction orders issued in that respect as follows:
“Henceforth, number of passengers to be conveyed in commercial vehicles have been limited to: KEKE – 2 passengers; Shuttle Bus – 4 passengers; and Mini bus – 6 passengers respectively.
“The public is to note that the Police and all security services in the state are geared to enforce these restrictions to the latter in observance of overriding public health interest.
“All are therefore enjoined to postpone their social events, commitments and all gatherings of any kind that may attract more than 30 persons. Persons invited to such events especially those travelling from outside Anambra State to attend are strongly advised to cancel their trips as those events will surely not be allowed to hold.”
Mohammed called on members of the Public to avoid visits to police stations and other security formations, except when absolutely necessary on security grounds.
Meanwhile, the State Government has placed all the six entry points into the state under full scale watch.
The state Commissioner of Transport, Dr Christian Maduko, made the declaration during a tour of Onitsha Bridge Head (border between Anambra and Delta State) and Amansea, border between the state and Enugu State.
The state has boundaries with six states, Enugu, Imo, Abia, Delta, Kogi and Rivers.
Other measures that have been put in place include the use of thermometers for reading temperatures of commuters at border points and presentation of passengers’ manifests by inter-state commercial buses plying the state route.
Madubuko harped on the need for transport operators to imbibe the habit of moving with passengers’ manifests at this challenging time, so as to ease contact-tracing in the event of any identified case.
He said: “We are trying to see that those coming from other states comply with our directive. We want to check where they are coming from, where they are going in order to ascertain that they properly manifested.
“We have our monitoring teams in other areas to ensure that no place is left out in this task.”
While inspecting a vehicle’s manifest, the commissioner urged drivers to as a matter of urgency install sanitizers, hand-washing equipment with water and detergent as well as thermometers in their vehicles.
He added that “any commuter with high temperature or suspected case of the virus should be reported to the Ministry of Health or relevant agencies for immediate diagnosis.”
Some of the drivers who spoke commended the initiative of the state government in tackling the global health emergency.
A driver with Romchi Mass Transit Ltd, Mr. Amechi Aluu, applauded the efforts of the monitoring team, saying that some of the requirements should be communicated to the management of the transport company.
Mr. Fidelis Ehirinne of the Enugu State Transport Company (ENTRACO) pledged to comply with approved loading and sitting arrangements for social distancing of commuters.
On his part, Anyaegbulem Nwulu of Ifeanyichukwu Motors, described the exercise as timely.
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