Coronavirus: Governor Matawalle lockdowns Zamfara over COVID-19

- Zamfara government has announced a total lockdown of the state over the spread of coronavirus

- This was made known by the state governor, Bello Matawalle on Monday, March 23

- Usman Nagoggo, the state commissioner of police, also banned all gatherings of more than 20 people across the state

In an effort to contain the spread of the pandemic coronavirus in Zamfara state, Governor Bello Matawalle has shut down all government offices, ministries, departments and agencies across the state.

The Nation reports that the governor has been mostly indoors since he came back to the state last Thursday, March 19, from a foreign trip after staying for a while in Abuja.

Legit.ng gathered that he attended the inspection of proposed quarantined coronavirus centre at the Federal Medical Centre, Gusau on Friday, March 20, after his arrival in the state.

The state First Lady, Hajiya A’isha Bello Muhammad, also cancelled a press briefing at the governor’s private residence at exactly 3 pm, an hour to the scheduled time.

The commissioner of police in the state, Usman Nagoggo, also banned all gatherings of more than 20 people across the state and ordered for decongestion of all police stations, including immediate release of all suspects with minor offences.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna state, directed a partial lockdown in the state, saying that, all civil servants from level 12 and below, should remain at home for the next 30 days, effective from Tuesday, March 24.

It was reported that El Rufai in a state broadcast on Monday, March 23, directed that from Tuesday, March 24, markets should be partially open, saying that, ‘’only traders selling food and medicines are permitted to open their shops.

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The governor who said that the directive became necessary to prevent the spread of coronavirus, pointed out that, his government would not hesitate to enforce a total lockdown of the state of the need arises.

The governor, however, said that workers providing essential services workers in the health, security and emergency service sectors are exempted from the directive.

He decried that though the government’s directive against large gatherings was flouted, however, expressed gratitude to those religious leaders who complied with the directive.

Also, as Nigeria's total confirmed cases of coronavirus surged to 36 on Monday, March 23, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) warned against the sharing and spreading of fake news.

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Source: Legit.ng