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Covid-19 : Niger Police Command lauds residents over total compliance with curfew

Coronavirus

By Aminu Garko

Paikoro (Niger), April 2, 2020 ( NAN) The Police Command in Niger on Thursday commended residents of the state for totally complying with the curfew imposed to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Adamu Usman, made the commendation in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna shortly after monitoring the level of compliance with the order in Chanchaga, Bosso and Paikoro  local government areas of the state.

Usman said there was total compliance with the order across the 25 local government areas in the state.

He said although no case of the disease had been recorded in the state, the command would continue to compliment the efforts of the government in enforcing the curfew to prevent the spread of the scourge.

He said the command would  continue to enforce and closely monitor compliance with the order so as to achieve the objective.

” We will sustain collaboration with sister agencies  to sustain significant success in terms of securing compliance from the civil population through community engagement,” the commissioner said.

He urged the general public to be law abiding, observe safety tips and continue to comply with the curfew and the Social Distancing order aimed at enhancing public safety and public health in the state.

He warned violators of the government orders to desist or face the full wrath of the law.

” We will not hesitate to be decisive on any person or group of persons who become hell bent on bending these restriction orders,” commissioner said. (NAN)

AAG /AMY

Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

Coronavirus

By Aminu Garko

Bida (Niger) March 28, 2020 (NAN) Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger on Saturday tested negative to the Coronavirus (COVID-1).

Dr Maku Sidi, Commissioner for Health, confirmed this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Bida.

“Gov. Bello was in Abuja for APC Governors’ Forum and other official engagements and had contact with those suspected to be COVID-19 positive; consequently, he submitted self for test and it came out negative.

“Since his return to the state, he has gone into self-isolation as a precautionary measure against the spread of Coronavirus.

“There is no cause for alarm; we are doing everything humanly possible to deal with the situation at hand as a normal precautionary measure.

“We in Niger are not taking things for granted; every citizen must engage in personal hygiene and take actions that can help us to overcome this health challenge once and for all,” he said.

He said that movements into, and outside, the state had been banned in the effort to prevent the entrance and spread of the dreaded Coronavirus.

The commissioner explained that the state government had generally imposed a curfew to force people to comply to the non-movement order.

He urged people to support government efforts to protect Niger residents from being infected by the pandemic.

Sidi urged residents not to panic over the development, but to adhere strictly to health advice, especially social distancing and the constant washing of both hands with soap and running water. (NAN)

AAG/ETS

Maku told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), that the state government had generally imposed a curfew to force people to comply to the non-movement order.

The commissioner, who decried the general non-compliance to the no-movement order in Bida, urged people to support government efforts to protect Niger residents from being infected by the pandemic.

“The restriction order will continue until further notice.

“We have since embarked on aggressive sensitisation to mobilise residents to support the government efforts toward preventing the spread of coronavirus among residents.

“We have already reached out to traditional and religion leaders as well as other stakeholders to mobilise residents to cooperate and adhere to health instructions of washing hands with soap and running water and keeping hygienic environments,” he said.

Maku, however, expressed dismay over the non-compliance with the curfew in Bida town, but added that security agencies had been mandated to enforce it.

“I have just spoken with the Chairman of Bida Local Government and we agreed on how to deal with the situation at hand.

“We will also reach out to traditional rulers as well as market leaders; we want everyone to cooperate with the security personnel deployed to enforce the order,” he said.

A NAN Correspondent, who visited Bida, reports that socio-economic activities were at their peak with shops, super markets, motor parks and petrol filling stations busy with usual activities.

NAN also met some residents preparing for wedding celebrations and the Friday Congregational prayers.

Alhaji Adamu Abubakar, a native of Mokwa, told NAN in Bida that he was at the ancient town for the wedding ceremony of his senior brother.

“I am aware of the order restricting movement, but this wedding is so dear to me that I can’t afford to miss it,” an excited Abubakar told NAN.

He, however, called for adequate publicity to sensitise rural dwellers on preventive measures to be adopted to avoid the deadly pandemic that has killed one persons and infected many others in the country. (NAN)

AAGEBI/ETS

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COVID-19: Niger Govt. threatens total shutdown as residents fail to observe curfew

By Aminu Garko

Curfew
Minna, March 26, 2020 (NAN) The Niger Government has threatened to shutdown the entire state if residents continue to violate the daily curfew imposed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the state.

Dr Maku Sidi, the state Commissioner for Health, disclosed this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Minna.

“Government will not hesitate to shutdown the entire state if residents failed to adhere with the order restricting movement as part of the proactive health measures adopted to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the state,’’ he said.

He explained that all public and private schools and institutions as well as markets, restaurants, shops and motor parks in the state should remain closed from 8 a.m. to 8a.m. on daily basis until further notice.

He emphasised that all public gatherings of more than 20 persons and all forms of street hawking and begging have been banned in all parts of the state.

The commissioner said that the directive became necessary due to the growing concern and spread of COVID-19 across the globe and the country.

He added that it also aimed at curtailing the spread of the virus by restricting public gatherings and maintaining social distance.

A NAN correspondent monitoring the curfew in Chanchaga, Bosso and Paikoro Local Government Areas reports that there was no compliance to the directive.

At Maitumbu, David Mark road, Kasuwan Gwari areas some shops and restaurants were open for business.

Malam Musa Abubakar, a shop owner at Maitumbi told NAN that: ‘It is only when I open for business that I will provide for my family.

“I have three wives and 14 children, where to do you expect me to get food for them if I don’t open my shop,’’ he said.

Also, Madam Rabi Isa, a food seller, told NAN that “at Maitumbi it is business as usual since we have been adhering to the preventive measures by washing our hands before eating”.

Similarly, a market at Sauka Ka huta area was busy as usual as residents were seen buying and selling.

Malam Lukman Dauda, a resident of Sauka Ka huta area, called on the state government to do more in tackling the spread of COVID 19.

However, there was partial compliance at Old Airport Quarters, Dutsen Kura, Shiroro road and Tunga lowcost areas as residents were seen discussing in groups while shops and business centres closed.

Hajiya Maryam Mustapha, a resident of old Airport, commended the Federal and State governments for the political commitment towards preventing the spread of Coronavirus in the country.

“I strongly advise residents to obey all preventive health advice as part of efforts to curb the spread of Coronavirus among residents,’’ she said.

Mustapha, therefore, called for the establishment of National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) with modern health facilities across the 25 local government areas of the state to respond to any suspected victim. (NAN)
AAG/AMM/MST
Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

By Aminu Garko

Isolation

Minna, March 25, 2020 (NAN) Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger State has gone into self-isolation along with members of his family as a precautionary measure against the spread of Coronavirus in the state.

Dr Maku Sidi, the state Commissioner for Health, confirmed this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Wednesday.

Sidi also said the entire members of the state executive council are going into self-isolation as part of the proactive measures adopted by the state government to curb the spread.

“There is no cause for alarm, we are doing every thing humanly possible to deal with the situation at hand as a normal precautionary measure.

“Gov. Bello was in Abuja for APC Governor’s Forum and other official engagements and have in contact with those suspected to be having the case of COVID-19, hence the need to submit self, aides and members of their households for test.

“We in Niger are not taking things for granted in view of the circumstance we find ourselves today, every citizen must engage in personal hygiene and take actions that can help us overcome this health challenge once and for all,” he said.

Sidi, therefore, urged residents not to panic over the development but to adhere strictly to health advised.

He urged citizens to abide by his directives on social distancing and obey fully the restriction of gathering and handwashing to prevent the spread of the disease. (NAN)

AAG /AWA/MST

Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Coronavirus
By Aminu Garko
Minna, March 20, 2020 (NAN) The Niger State government has earmarked N28.2 million to effectively tackle and curb the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the state.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Maku Sidi, made the disclosure in Minna on Friday while briefing journalists on Coronavirus, with the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Matane, in attendance.
Sidi explained that the money was the first tranche, adding that more funds were being expected from the state government to achieve maximum results.
He appealed to the people of the state to take precautionary measures, especially those given to them by medical experts, to avoid contracting the disease.
Sidi also spoke about plans by the state government to restrict large congregations at both mosques and churches as well as gatherings at public places such as markets and motor parks, to safeguard the lives of the citizens.
Also speaking, the SSG said that government has ordered for the closure of all public, private and tertiary institutions throughout the state, beginning from Monday.
Matane explained that all social and political gatherings had also been suspended to curb the spread of Coronavirus in the state.
According to him, the state government will ensure that residents are free from all forms of diseases.
A representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Mr Bolaji Buhari, said that the organisation was ready to work with the Federal Government to prevent any form of outbreak of diseases in the country.
He advised members of the public to abide by simple advice from medical experts. (NAN)
AAG/ESAN/WAS
Edited by Abiodun Esan and ‘Wale Sadeeq