Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State on Monday said he had completed his 14-day period of isolation for coronavirus.
Abiodun also said he had tested negative for coronavirus having subjected himself to test following his recent return from the United Kingdom.
Abiodun spoke at the unveiling of three isolation centres in Ikenne, Sagamu and Abeokuta, with 300 beds in all.
The governor, however, announced that the President, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has approved the state’s request to relax the total lockdown of the state till Friday.
He said the request was made as a result of lack of preparedness for the 14-day lockdown.
Buhari had announced the lockdown of the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and Ogun states with effect from 11am on Monday, as part of moves to curtail spread of COVID-19.
Abiodun spoke on his recent return from the 80th birthday ceremony of the Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK, Justice George Oguntade, held in the UK.
He said, “I was at that party held on the 10th of March, I came back to Nigeria on the 14th of March. At that time, none of us knew that we would have been exposed or there was anybody there that might have been exposed to the COVID-19.
“I came back on Saturday; we had deliberations on Sunday and Monday. I came back to Abeokuta on Tuesday. I came for exco meeting and I was maintaining social distancing in exco.
“On Thursday, we had National Economic Council meeting and then we began to realise the need to go on isolation.
“So, from that Thursday that we had meeting, I went into isolation and I remain in isolation just to ensure that it elapses for 14 days from the day I went to that party.
“I now also went into isolation in line with my exposure at NEC and Abuja trip. I want to tell you that since I came back from Abuja, this is my first appearance publicly. I have done the test and it has been negative. “
Speaking on the lockdown, Abiodun said Buhari had graciously relaxed the lockdown from Monday to Friday, April 3.
The governor said the announcement of the lockdown by the President came at a time when the state was not prepared.
Abiodun explained that he had to reach out to the Presidency to enable the state government to prepare for the lockdown by putting in place palliatives which would cushion the effects of the lockdown on the residents.
He said, “After consultation with the Presidency, the interstate entry points and international borders will close tonight at 11pm as directed by the President. However, the total lockdown of the state will be effective from 11pm on Friday, 3rd April, 2020.
“This is to enable us to finalise the mechanisms for the distribution of relief materials and food items ahead of the total lockdown.
“We appeal to our people to abide by these government orders, and the advisories provided by the ministry of health on hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene and social distancing,” he said.
The governor hinted that between Tuesday (today) and Friday the government would establish food banks where food items would be doled out to the poor and vulnerable in the state to cushion effect of the lockdown.
Abiodun explained that the government would deploy Community Development Councils (CDCs) and Community Development Associations (CDAs) in the distribution of the pallatives to ensure it gets to the doorsteps of the beneficiaries without compromising the social distancing.
PUNCH
