By Steve Oni, Ilorin
Kwara state government has expressed great displeasure with the reckless violation of its no-movement directive by the people of the state, warning that punitive actions would henceforth be taken against anyone who violates the regulations.
Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi, who doubles as Chairman Kwara Covid-19 Technical Committee, gave the warning at a press briefing on Sunday in Ilorin, the state capital, adding that the security agencies have been fully briefed to arrest violators.
Restating that all markets remain open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between the hours of 8a.m. and 12noon for people to restock food and other essentials, Alabi, however, added that there would be no vehicular movements of any kind except for those on essential duties and trucks conveying foods and drugs and associated services earlier exempted.
He said: “For emphasis, Okada, Keke Napep, taxi, private vehicles and other vehicular movements are disallowed.
“People are to patronise only markets nearer to their places of residence. Movements to the markets shall be by foot. I repeat: people can go on foot to their neighbourhood markets to restock essential commodities on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays between 8am and 12 noon. But all unauthorised vehicular movements are banned until further notice.
“Anyone caught violating these regulations will be prosecuted in the mobile courts and sanctioned accordingly. People are to note that convictions at this mobile courts carry the same consequences as other judicial convictions.
“Government is working with market leaders to urgently create more neighbourhood markets to further ease people’s access to essential commodities.
“We admit that these measures are truly hard and extraordinary. But they are the only means to flattening the curve of transmission in our state and prevent avoidable deaths and sufferings. The only alternative is to let everyone go about their normal business and let everyone get infected. No responsible government should ever allow that to open. You have elected us to protect you. We urge you to give us all the support to make that happen.
“We commend our health workers for their sacrifices. We promise to stand by you and protect you now and always. Apart from the thousands of PPEs the government had earlier distributed across our 45 hospitals, we just took delivery of new consignments of PPEs which we have started distributing since Saturday.”
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