Ogun 14-day lockdown: Gov. Abiodun provides leeway, orders food market open biweekly

…begins distribution of stimulus package

As the 14-day lockdown of Ogun State commenced on April 3 night, the State Government has announced a leeway for its citizens by ordering opening of food markets biweekly.

Gov Dapo Abiodun had directed that all markets in the state will only open between 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday April 7 in the first instance to enable the people to file to make some purchases observing social distancing.

Abiodun told newsmen on Friday night at his Iperu-Remo residence in Ogun that the total lockdown for the first three days was to allow for the fumigation of the state to disinfect public places such as motor parks and markets.

“The lockdown will be total from now till 7.00 a.m. on Tuesday, to be suspended between 7.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. to allow for essential business activities.

“This 7.00 a.m. to 2.00.p.m. window will be observed every other day therefrom; that is, Tuesday instant, Thursday, and Saturday for the coming week,” he said.

On stimulus package for the people during the lockdown, Abiodun disclosed that more than 500,000 households across the state would benefit from the intervention to cushion the effects of the lock-in.

According to him, the package for the “poor and the vulnerable’’ each household contains 5kg each of rice, beans, and gari with tomato pastes, vegetable oil, salt, seasoning cubes, and other hygiene products.

Abiodun warned: “Under no circumstance should the items be diverted to other use other than what they were meant for.’’

He appealed to the people to avoid stampede and unnecessary struggles during the distribution, saying it will a continuous thing.

“We have constituted a multi-sectoral local government task force to monitor the daily report and distribution of the stimulus packages from the state government to all the 236 wards of the state.”

The governor said that effective from April 7 morning until the expiration of the lockdown the state government would begin to enforce the compulsory wearing of face mask.

On the third COVID-19 case in the state who tested positive 10 days ago, Abiodun said he was discharged on Friday evening after showing “considerable improvement in his health condition.’