COVID-19: Uzodinma imposes indefinite curfew on Imo

Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo state has restricted movements of people from 6:00am to 6:00pm daily and imposed a dusk to dawn curfew on the state.

Daily Trust reports that this was Uzodinma’s first Executive Order since he was inaugurated as the governor of the state.

Uzodinma, in the Executive Order 001 on “COVID-19 Lockdown and Curfew” issued late Friday night, said the restriction would be from 6:00am to 6:00pm daily, while the curfew would last from 6pm to 6am daily until further notice.

He pointed out that violators will be tried by a mobile court and upon conviction, be liable to pay applicable fines as stated in the Order.

The governor, in a statement he personally signed, said the action became necessary in order to preserve the lives of the people of the state.

“That conscious of the need to preserve the lives of Imo people, the government of Imo State is committed to the enforcement of a total lockdown order of movement of persons, except for those on essential services, from 6am to 6pm daily.

“That the government of Imo state hereby imposes a dusk to dawn curfew, in all parts of the state from 6pm to 6am, effective Saturday, April 18 till further notice.

“That borders leading in and out of Imo state are hereby closed effective Saturday 18, till further notice,” the statement partly read.

Uzodinma said that only Imo indigenes returning from outside the state would be admitted into the state on condition of proper identification, that they would subject themselves to test for COVID-19 and are quarantined for 14 days before entering the state.

The governor said that  anyone who violates this order shall be liable to seven  days of Community service and a fine in lieu, in this order; tricycles -N7,000, motorcycles- N 7,000, border closure violators- N10,000, cars- N20,000 and trucks – N50,000.

“This Executive Order No 001, 2020 is hereby signed this day Friday, April 17, 2020, at the Government House, Owerri, Imo State,” the statement added.