By Ayodeji Alabi
The Ondo State Government has directed civil servants from Grade Level One to 12 who are not on essential services to stay at home as a precautionary measure against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mr Donald Ojogo, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, in a statement on Monday in Akure explained that there was also a total ban on all political, social and religious gatherings in the state for 14 days.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a suspected case of the virus was reported in the state on March 18 while Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in a broadcast on March 19 closed down all schools in the state.
Akeredolu had further directed the regulation of crowds in all churches and mosques across the state until further notice.
The commissioner in the latest directive also said gatherings at clubs and beer parlours were prohibited until further notice.
Ojogo said the decisions, which were additions to the state broadcast and in the overall interest of the state, were reached at an extensive deliberation on the Covid-19 pandemic during the State Executive Council meeting on Monday.
“As a responsive government, we have a strong resolve to stem the influx of an undeterminable number of persons in their hundreds into the state, especially from unverifiable areas.
“The state government has already directed the Commissioner of Police and heads of other security agencies to enforce all regulations in respect of crowd control as spelt out by the government.
“Government, as well as all persons of goodwill in Ondo state, no doubt, heaved a sigh of relief when few days ago, our collective anxiety became calm only after the result conducted on a suspected Covid-19 case turned out negative.
“In the meantime, the government wishes to encourage the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state to consider postponing its state congress scheduled for Tuesday, 24th March, 2020 and take a cue from Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, who by public apology, agreed that the party did not exercise discretion by organising a political rally in Ibadan,”
