Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has outlined conditions that must be met for the government to relax the lockdown order, which was recently extended for 30 days to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
Governor El-Rufai had during a live chat with selected radio stations on Tuesday night said once the state is able to test 1,000 people daily, and establish that the coronavirus has not spread to communities and further halts the transmission of the virus from other states, the state government will consider relaxing the restrictions.
“If we are able to do mass testing and establish that the virus has not gotten to the stage of mass transmission, these 30 days extension could turn to 10 days or 14 days, or even seven days,” he said.
He further explained that “Our hope is that once the third molecular testing laboratory at Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial hospital is approved by the NCDC within the week, and we are able to get all the equipment for mass testing, then Alhamdulillah, we will be able to relax the restrictions.”
The governor said with two laboratories already engaged in coronavirus testing and a third laboratory to be available soon, the projection is for the state to have a testing capacity of 1,000 people daily.
He further said, “As soon as we are confident that there are no people coming into Kaduna State with the virus, we will relax the restrictions or even suspend it so that our people can continue with their lives within Kaduna, while we ensure that those from neighbouring states that did not take the measures we have taken are restricted from entry.”
He also said he was not unmindful of the intention of some traders to stage a protest as a result of the announcement by the government to close major markets on Wednesday and replace them with temporary neighbourhood markets which will commence operations on Saturday.
He further warned that, “We are waiting for those who want to go on protest; we have asked the soldiers and the police to come out; if anyone thinks he will breach the peace in the state at these challenging times, whoever he is, no matter how highly placed, will face the wrath of the law.
“These markets are owned by the government, not individuals. The government built the markets and any trader who claims to own a shop in the market is on a lease or was given the shop for free. Even if you claim to have built the shop, the land belongs to the government, and anyone who attempts to disturb our peace should know that we have laws put in place,” he said.
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