By Ado Hassan, Sokoto
Sokoto state Governments Aminu Waziri has extended by another two weeks the ban on the interstate vehicular movement from and into the state.
Tambuwal made the announcement at a meeting Thursday following the expiration of the first leg of the ban which terminated by 12 midnight of Friday 10 April, 2020.
The first leg was proclaimed on March 27, 2020 by the governor as part of necessary precautionary measures to curtail the spread of the dreaded Covid-19 global pandemic into the state.
Contained in a release issued by Muhammad Bello, Special Adviser Media and Publicity said Tambuwal along with the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Saad Abubakar and other stakeholders had on Thursday reviewed the subsisting ban after they received a situation report on the state’s response to the disease from the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Ali Inname.
The state Commissioner of Health, Dr Inname disclosed the development at a press briefing also said in addition to directing all staff on levels12 and below to work from home during the extension period, appealed to citizens to stay clear of assembling in large numbers for the purpose of merry making in celebration of any kind.
However, Tambuwal according to Inname, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for their role in keeping the COVID-19 pandemic at bay in the state within the period under review.
Similarly, the governor also extended appreciation to the security agencies in the state for tackling those wanting to breach the lockdown.
Though, before the stakeholders meeting went into a closed-door session, Tambuwal appealed to the people of the state to know that the disease is real, urging all and sundry in the state to step up surveillance as the disease was getting high in neighbouring Niger Republic.
He stressed the need for citizens of the state to desist from traveling to the Republic until the situation becomes normal.
Briefly speaking , Sultan Abubakar expressed gratitude to the governor and reiterated to the people that the disease was real and enjoined Nigerians to be vigilant and prayerful “as prayer is the shield of the believer”.
The revered leader stressed the need for citizens in the state to embrace the culture of personal hygiene, social distance, read and acquire information about the disease.
“Those trying to go against the restriction of movement aren’t doing anybody any good. We should all take care and take note that the disease is real,” the monarch noted.
Accordingly, he advised on the need for the state government to maintain partial lockdown while taking into consideration the importance of food and other germane issues as Ramadan, scarcity of foodstuffs, nightly congregational prayers.
In doing so, the religious monarch said people’s opinion should also be sought
