The Kwara State Government has said it would no longer allow people into the state in line with the ban on inter-state movement to contain the spread of COVID-19.
The Deputy Governor and Chairman of the state’s COVID-19 Technical Committee, Mr. Kayode Alabi, made this known in Ilorin during a meeting with the leadership of the Hausa community in the state on Monday.
He pointed out that some of the COVID-19 index cases in Kwara were non-residents but travellers intercepted by security personnel in the state.
Alabi, therefore, urged community leaders to tell their members to stay wherever they were until the pandemic was over.
He reminded that the virus does not show on faces and the moment a carrier mingles with others, it increases community spreading.
For this reason, therefore, he said the government would not allow any visitors into the state in order to curb community transmission of the disease.
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He, however, said those on essential services or those granted special permissions were exempted.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, Aisha Ahman-Patigi, noted that the government could not address the migration problem, especially from the north, without involving the Hausa community in the state.
She made reference to an Islamic admonition that: “When there is pandemic in any community, everyone should remain where they are,” and urged the Hausa community to cooperate with the government in the fight against COVID-19.
Speaking on behalf of the Hausa community, Abubakar Suleiman, Assistant Wakili, Serikin Hausawa, Kwara State, who represented the Seriki, thanked Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his efforts in containing the spread of the virus.
He pledged the cooperation and support of his community to the committee in its efforts to fight the disease.
He also expressed the appreciation of members of his community for the palliatives given them by the state government.