Ogun state extends coronavirus lockdown for another 7 days
- Ogun state has become the first of the three initially locked down states to extend restrictions which were relaxed by President Buhari on Monday, May 4.
- Governor Abiodun said the extension was necessitated by the failure of residents to comply with the NCDC's safety guidelines and the attendant increase of infections in the state
- The governor hoped that the situation would be better after the fresh extension which is to last for 7 days
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The governor of Ogun state, Dapo Abiodun has extended the coronavirus lockdown in the state by another seven days.
The governor announced the extension during a press briefing in Abeokuta, the state capital, on Friday, May 15.
According to Governor Abiodun, one of the reasons the extension became necessary was the widespread disobedience to the rules of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) after President Buhari eased the total lockdown on the trio of Lagos, Ogun and FCT Abuja on Monday, May 4.
However, the governor did not tighten restrictions of the extension. He said the current control measures which allowed residents some vehicular movements and business activities continues.
"The current pattern of lockdown, with relaxation windows from 7.00am to 5.00pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday continues."
He noted that this extension would be the last one if the state government noticed sizeable improvements.
Source: Twitter
Governor Abiodun said the decision was also taken in line with the calls by residents who voted for an extension in a Twitter poll.
"Interestingly, the feedback from you, the people of Ogun State, from the Public Opinion Poll hosted on Twitter, also support the extension of the lockdown.
"Out of about 6,000 respondents of the online poll, 53% support the continuation of the lockdown whilst 43% want a review with 4% undecided," the governor said.
Lagos may also extend its lockdown as well since infections in the state have risen to over 2000 with 179 fresh cases confirmed on Friday, May 15 alone.
Also, the state's governor had threatened an extension days ago after complaining about the high level of non-compliance with NCDC safety guidelines by nearly everybody; from commercial bus operators to traders and individual residents.
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Meanwhile, a Legit.ng exclusive report published on Friday from a poll by the Lagos state government similar to that of Ogun state showed that there were more residents calling for an extension of the lockdown for safety purposes than those against it.
In Legit.ng's own exclusive poll, respondents also called for an extension of the lockdown by President Buhari following the disobedience to social distancing rules and the wearing of face masks.
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Source: Legit.ng
