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Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike on Wednesday relaxed the lockdown of Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt local government areas of the state for six days.
According to the governor who spoke in a state broadcast on Wednesday, the relaxation kicks-off today.
He said the lockdown would be restored in the capital city on May 26.
He said: “Residents and visitors of these local government areas can therefore go out of their homes for their lawful businesses from May 21 until 8pm, Tuesday, 26th of May 2020, when the lockdown will be restored and maintained until further notice.
“It is important to emphasized that the relaxation only allows for free human and vehicular movements and the opening of limited businesses, such as banks, supermarkets, shopping malls and grocery shops.
“All land, sea and air exit and entry borders and routes into Rivers State shall remain closed. Similarly, all open markets, motor parks, hotels, bars, night clubs, in-service restaurants and barbers’ shops must remain shut.
“Religious gatherings of more than 50 persons remain prohibited. All public weddings, burials and other social gathering also remain prohibited. Private and commercial vehicles, including tricycles must continue to limit the number of passengers to two persons only.
“The wearing of face masks or coverings in public spaces, including commercial and private vehicles remains compulsory as contraveners would be arrested and summarily dealt with as the law demands.”
…Blames oil workers for multiple COVID-19 cases in the state
Meanwhile Gov Wike has insisted that oil workers are responsible for 60 per cent of the state’s COVID-19 cases.
Blaming the rising COVID-19 cases in the state on unscreened oil workers, the governor noted that 60 per cent of infections in the state came from such employees returning from rigs.
As at the time of filing this report, Rivers had 53 positive Coronavirus cases out of which 29 were active and 21 discharged. Three deaths were recorded.
Speaking with the management team of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited at Government House, Port Harcourt, the governor said the development was the reason he insisted that oil workers coming into the state must be tested to know their Coronavirus status.
The governor said oil remained the mainstay of the economy and clarified that all his actions were not targeted at anybody or organisation.
He recalled that recently the Nigeria Airforce Base, Port Harcourt quarantined 14 oil workers out which three of them tested positive for the virus.
He said: “It’s not in anybody’s interest to deny people to carry out their official duties. Oil is the main stay of the economy of Nigeria and without it, we that is in this part of the country will find it difficult to function.
“My concern is that companies should always notify government of workers they are bringing into the state, so that our health officials can monitor them.