By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin
Edo State government has ordered the enforcement lockdown of shops and markets across the state to prevent the spread of coronavirus pandemic on the state.
The state Deputy Governor who disclosed this at a media briefing on Thursday however, exempted persons on essential duties in the enforcement which begins on Friday.
He said the use of security agents to enforce the directive became necessary in order to protect the people against the deadly virus.
“The state government has commenced fumigation of the state environment to protect the people against the virus. All the streets in Benin would be fumigated and this is done simultaneously across the 18 Local Government Areas in the state,” he said
“The earlier directive on closure of markets and shops is still in force and only those selling food items and medicines and other essential things would be allowed to open,”
He noted that returnees from Europe are now using hotels in the state as isolation centres without adhering to all safety precautions.
“For anybody coming to self- Isolate in your hotel facility, hoteliers are to take the necessary precautions and daily temperature checks of their clients. They are to obtain travel history of their clients among others,”
On transportation, he said they have had a meeting with the National Union of Road Transport Worker and Raid Transport Association of Nigeria and agreed that there would be no over loading of passengers in the state.
“The approved passengers for buses are one person at the front and two in other rolls. The taxi is to carry one person in front and two at the back,” he said.
On the inter- State transport, Shaibu said operators are mandated to ensure that the manifest of travelers are made available on request by the state government for contract tracing.
