Yesterday, 22nd of April 2020, all the Governors of Nigerians States under the Nigerian Governors Forum, headed by Gov Kayode Fayemi, reached an agreement to halt all interstate travels for two weeks in a bid to curb the spread of community interstate transferred COVID-19 disease, OYOGist.com has gathered.
Here’s what you need to know about the interstate travel ban and why that decision was made.
- Interstate COVID-19 spread is rising:
The spread of the COVID19 caused by interstate travels is on the rise. With many states placing banning all forms of movements, travelers between states are spreading the infection to other states that had fewer or no prior cases. A case in point is the Kano resident that took a trip to Lagos on a public bus and came back infected with COVID-19. He died eventually.
2. The ban won’t affect essential services
Providers of essential services such as heathcare workers, farmers and delivery services providers would be exempted from the 14-days interstate travel ban.
3. This take effect across all states
Quite unlike the lockdown that was imposed on Lagos, Ogun and Abuja that only affected three states and other states whose Governors willingly imposed a lockdown, the interstate travel ban would affect all the states in the entire frederation.
The decision was unanimously reached by all the Governors of the counrty at the Nigerian Governors Forum meeting, where the aim is to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by cutting interstate spread.
Read the statement issued by the head of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Gov, Kayode Fayemi below:
ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 6th COVID-19 TELECONFERENCE MEETING OF THE NIGERIA GOVERNORS’ FORUM HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 22nd APRIL 2020
We, members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), at our meeting held today deliberated on the COVID-19 pandemic in the country and resolved as follows:
The Forum held a minute’s silence in honour of all Nigerians who have lost their lives from coronavirus, especially health workers who were in the front lines of the epidemic.
Members also conveyed their condolence to Mr President and the people of Borno State on the passing of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari who passed away on 17th April 2020 in the line of duty to the country.
The NGF Chairman briefed the Forum on the rapidly evolving situation of the COVID-19 pandemic and coordination efforts with the federal government, multilateral and bilateral partners, and the private sector through the Coalition against COVID-19 (CACOVID). With over 25 States now affected by the spread of the virus and increasing evidence of community transmission, State Governors called for the decentralization of the COVID-19 response as the best chance of nipping the spread of the virus in communities.
Following an update from the NGF Secretariat on the number of COVID-19 cases in the country, members expressed serious concern over the rising spread of the virus among health workers and resolved to work with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to ensure that health workers are adequately provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) and are constantly trained on the use of protective gears.
In order to strengthen coordinated implementation of necessary public health recommendations across States, Governors resolved to set up COVID-19 Committees at the regional level, headed by their State Commissioners of Health. Regional Committees will continue to interface with the State Task Force Committees on COVID-19 already established in each State.
The Forum also received briefing from the Governors of Lagos, Bauchi, Oyo and Ogun State who shared their experiences and lessons from the fight against COVID-19.
Governors unanimously agreed to the implementation of an inter-State lockdown in the country over the next two weeks to mitigate the spread of the virus from State to State. Only essential services will be permitted.
Lastly, the Forum congratulated the Governor of Kaduna State, H.E. Nasir El-Rufai who after nearly four weeks of testing positive and observing very strict medical regime has now received two consecutive negative test results for the coronavirus.
Governor Kayode Fayemi
Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum
22nd April 2020
