The Rivers State Government through the Ministry of Social Welfare has profiled and evacuated 150 vagrants to Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, some states in the north and Niger Republic.
The state Commissioner for Social Welfare, Mrs. Inime Aguma, Tuesday led other officials of the ministry to profile all the vagrants before they were evacuated to their states and local government areas of origin. Aguma said the evacuation exercise is a non-discriminatory program aimed at protecting Rivers people, especially from the coronavirus pandemic.
She said that the exercise is not targeted at any ethnic group, but aimed at removing vagrants who may circulate coronavirus from the streets. The Social Welfare Commissioner noted that the right arrangements have been put in place to ensure that the vagrants are transported to their respective locations in dignity.
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike had, on Monday during a state broadcast, directed the state Commissioner for Social Welfare to round up and deport all vagrants to their states of origin.
He said: “We have also directed the Commissioner for Social Welfare to round up and deport all vagrants, including the Almajiris, to their states of origin to protect our people from the threat they present to the transmission of this pandemic.”
Meanwhile, Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has announced a partial relaxation of the state lockdown to tackle COVID-19 pandemic, which included weddings and burial ceremony, with strict observance of social distancing rules.
While thanking the citizens, security agencies and other stakeholders for the contribution to the appreciable success and gains of the 28-day lockdown, Okowa said in a broadcast in Asaba yesterday that the ban on certain public gatherings like sports and religious congregation as well as mass movement in vehicles would still be in force.
Schools are to remain closed for at least one more month while the ban on inter-state movement, other than for specified essential services as announced last Monday by President Muhammadu Buhari, would be strictly enforced in Delta State, the governor added.
Okowa, who reiterated the readiness of his administration to continue to tackle the challenge posed by coronavirus frontally and proactively, said: “We have every reason to believe that the lockdown has helped to limit the spread of the virus in our state. As at today, six cases of COVID-19 have been recorded, while five of the patients are doing well in our case management centres. Sadly, we lost one of them who presented himself late to the medical authorities; his test report, which turned out to be positive, was received after his unfortunate demise.
“The period of the lockdown, which is to enable us break the chain of transmission, also gave us the leeway to easily trace, identify, isolate and test contacts of infected persons. In view of the foregoing, it has become necessary to partially lift the ban on movements within the state effective from April 30, 2020. This is to enable our people engage in economic/business activities between the hours of 6a.m. and 7p.m., as security agencies will be on hand to ensure strict compliance with the time frame.”
According to the governor, “Conferences, sporting activities, gathering of people in convention/event centres, sports fields, public/open spaces as well as recreational and cultural/communal activities remain banned until May 31, 2020. While burials and weddings will be allowed, the social distancing rule (6ft apart) must be applied, and the number of guests/persons must not exceed 50. Our schools (public and private) shall remain closed until May 31, 2020.
“Entertainment centres, including cinemas, bars and night clubs, shall remain closed until May 31, 2020.
Restaurants/canteens/beer parlours are to operate on take-away basis while hotels will be allowed to open (with in-room dining) but their restaurants, bars and night clubs shall remain closed till further notice. While public transport services (tricycles taxis, buses) are allowed to operate, number of passengers shall be two persons at the back for tricycles; one person on the front seat and two persons at the back for a taxi; while for a 16-seater/18-seater bus, it is 10 to 12 persons.
“Also, our airports remain closed to passenger traffic till further notice. I shall be meeting with our religious leaders on April 30 to chart the way forward for our places of worship. However, all crusades/conventions shall remain banned till further notice. “For the public service, only workers on Grade Level 12 and above should resume work effective from April 30, 2020. This order does not apply to junior staff on essential/emergency duties.”
Okowa added that: “Workers identified by the ministry of Health or its agencies can work from home. However, workplace protocols should be in place for disease surveillance/prevention, including screening, use of face masks and social distancing.
“Let me reiterate that security agencies have been advised to ensure strict compliance with the above directives. Violators will be prosecuted, without fear or favour. Henceforth, it is mandatory for all residents in the state to make use of face masks in the public. Anybody leaving his/her home must wear a face mask effective from April 30 till further notice. They must be worn in public places, including offices, markets, malls, supermarkets, salons, hospitals and health clinics, churches, mosques as well as all approved gatherings of persons.
“Traders/market women are all required to wear face masks while carrying out their businesses. The local government chairmen are hereby directed to work out the modalities for the operations of the markets in their domain, especially with regards to social distancing and other sanitation protocols
