Africa Press-Nigeria:
As a palliative measure necessitated by the curfew imposed on the state due to COVID-19, the Nasiru El-Rufa’i led Kaduna state Government has commenced the distribution of food and other essential commodities to the poor and human clusters across the state.
The said as an interim measure, Kaduna State Government was in talks with the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria for use of the PCR machine at the African Center for Excellence for NTDs.
“When talks are finalized, the general public will be informed accordingly,” he said.
The governor,represents by Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, Deputy Governor of Kaduna State,spoke on Friday while giving an update of the activities of of Kaduna State COVID 19 taskforce.
Describing COVID-19 as the greatest Public Health challenge of the 21st century, the Governor said Coronavirus pandemic ,apart from being a health issue had brought on significant socio-economic challenges, with great impact on livelihoods of individuals, communities and countries at large.
” Given the several dimensions the pandemic has taken, State and federal Governments across the world have been instituting extraordinary measures to contain the scourge.
“On 26th March, 2020, I made the 2nd state broadcast but 3rd within a week, where Coronavirus was declared a dangerous infectious disease, within the context of the Quarantine Act. Consequently, in exercise of the powers vested in the Governor by the 1999 Constitution(as amended), Sections 2 and 8 of the Quarantine Act of 1926 (Q2, Law of Federation of Nigeria 2004) as well as Kaduna State Public Health Law of 1917, all residents were quarantined on 26th March, 2020. Subsequently, everyone was made to remain at home and all offices, event centres, markets and shops, including worship centres, were closed.”
“However, after about six days of this stay-at-home order, the Government relaxed the curfew, to enable people re-stock on food and other sundry supplies, last Wednesday 1st to Thursday 2nd April 2020. Similarly, a two-day window will be opened every week, Tuesday and Wednesday, to enable residents replenish their food supplies at this trying period.”
“Fellow citizens of Kaduna State, the quarantine continues today and this order must be strictly adhered to in the interest of Public Health and Safety. Before the review, the Quarantine order was variously breached in several respects. Although most places of worship remained closed, some clerics defied the law by insisting on holding congregational prayers. The clerics have been duly arrested, arraigned before the court, for onward prosecution.”
“Similarly, some markets were partially opened and commercial activities took place therein. Largely, commuting in commercial transport was absent but private vehicle owners plied our major roads during the lockdown.”
“Openly, motorcyclists were not observing social distancing as some of them conveyed passengers along our major road arteries. On the outskirts and inner cities, it was business as usual as residents carried out their daily routines in defiance to the Quarantine Order , believing falsely that COVID-19 is a ‘’rich man’s disease.’’ I want to emphasize here that Covid-19 is no respecter of persons- it can affect anyone- the rich, the poor, men, women, Christians as well as Muslims.”
