Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, yesterday extended the lockdown by one week as part of moves to curb community spread of the coronavirus.
He, however, said the window of relaxation usually on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, stands. Abiodun disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the Governor’s Office, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The governor expressed concern that the number of the COVID – 19 cases had risen to 100 in the last one week.
Abiodun said 20 have been discharged, with two deaths, leaving the state with 78 active cases. He expressed concern on residents’ non – compliance with the safety measures, amid increasing cases in the state.
“You, the entire people of Ogun State, have not elected me to make easy decisions, and tough decisions, we have to make. “Now, to preserve the lives of our people, we are persuaded to extend the current modified lockdown, which has been slightly eased, for another one week alongside the current guidelines.
This will be reviewed, as usual, on a weekly basis,” he said. He threatened to go after those smuggling people in and outside of the state in disregard of the interstate border closure.
“Reports reaching us have shown that many of our people are showing utter disregard for the precautionary guidelines, international best practices and safety measures rolled out, especially, during the window of relaxation of the lockdown.
We have heard and seen the havoc that COVID-19 continues to wreck in other lands. Let us learn from these experiences,” he said. “Let me state unequivocally that we will not tolerate any further breach on the ban of inter-state travel.
Anybody found culpable will be treated for committing a crime against Ogun State and visited with the full weight of the law. “As part of our community sensitization for the full and strict implementation of this ban, we have continued to engage the various non-Ogun State tribal community leaders through the office of the Special Assistants on non-indigene Relations”, the governor added.
