ASABA/Nigeria: In response to the high rate of disobedience to the lockdown order in Delta State, the state government had responded to deal with the situation by applying so tough rules to check defaulters.
The Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, in a broadcast today, Wednesday, April 8, 2020, in state wide broadcast of threatened to apply stricter measures to check disobedience of the state government’s directives on the lockdown in the state over the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is at the backdrop of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announcement on Tuesday that a confirmed case of the virus had been recorded in the state, the first.
While commending Deltans who had strictly adhered to the lockdown regulations from April 1, 2020, warned that enabling laws would be applied on those disobeying the directives of sit-at-home.
He expressed appreciation to all Deltans and non-Deltans in the state for their cooperation, saying “we are on day 8 of the lockdown and I know that a lot of our people have been cooperating with the directive of the government.
“Unfortunately, a few persons have tended to disobey orders and I want to urge every Deltan that from today onwards until the 14 days, to please, for the sake of everyone, for the sake of humanity, obey the orders of government, otherwise, they will be caught up by the arms of the law.
“The lockdown order was given because it was necessary; it is also lawful, because, I have already signed into law a regulation which empowers us to take action against those who would disobey the lockdown order.
“I want every Deltan to appreciate that it is for the good of the public; for all Deltans who have cooperated with us, I have sent messages of encouragement; I thank them.” He said.
It can be recalled that the state, through the office of the Chief Justice of the state, Justice Marshall Umukoro, had announced the setting up of three Mobile Courts in Asaba, Warri, and Ughelli to deal with the situation.
