Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has announced a total lockdown of parts of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area.
The total and complete lockdown starts from 6am of 19th April, 2020.
Wike, in a State Broadcast on Saturday said “While we commend our people for generally adhering to our restrictions on social distancing, we deplore the lack of compliance with the order on shutting business activities by some residents in parts of the Port Harcourt.
“These people are endangering the lives of everybody in the State. Consequently, we are constrained to place the following areas of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area under a total and complete lockdown until further notice:
• Creek road, including Prison junction, Nembe waterside, Cultural Centre, Yam Zone and Ahoada Street.
• Diobu area, including Education bus stop, Kalabari by Odi Street, Afikpo Street, Gambia Street, the entire Ikoku Spare part zone, Rivers State University roundabout, and Abali Park under the flyover (both descending and ascending).”
Wike said though the measures are painful, it is the right thing to do to check the spread of coronavirus in these areas.
He said: “All residents and visitors to these neighbourhoods must stay at home. All business premises, shops and commercial interactions must also cease in these places with immediate effect.
“We know how painful these measures are to the residents in particular, but at this critical moment, it is the right thing to do as a precaution to avoid potential exposure to and spreading of the virus from these areas.”
The Governor warned that the same steps will be taken against parts of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, if they continued to violate the State Government’s directive.
He said: “We have also noticed that stores and remote spaces are being converted to mini-markets in Obio/Akpor Local government Area by unscrupulous persons in defiance of the ban on market activities in the State.
“This should stop immediately, otherwise, we shall be compelled to we shall be compelled to lockdown the entire Local Government Area and deal with those flouting our directives and undermining our efforts.”
He regretted that commercial bus and taxi operators in the State are crowding their vehicles with passengers in disregard of the order on social distancing.
The Governor said: “This is dangerous and unacceptable. The State Government will in the next few days take appropriate actions against all transporters should they fail to immediately enforce social distancing practices and the mandatory use of sanitizers and face masks in their operations.”
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