The Niger State Government has relaxed the lockdown imposed on the state, after almost three months to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Announcing this after series of meetings with members of the COVID-19 Task Force in Minna, the state Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, said with the eased up COVID-19 lockdown, the curfew will now be observed from 10 pm to 4 am daily.

He said, “Henceforth, markets, banks and other places of business activities, as well as worship centres shall be opened for daily and weekly activities with strict adherence to all safety measures.”

The governor retained the ban on inter-state travels except for the movement of agricultural produce, petroleum products, manufactured goods and essential services while intra-state travels are to be eased up.

On the reopening of school, Bello directed the State Ministry of Education to liaise with all relevant stakeholders in the education sector towards developing a workable strategy for the reopening of our schools.

Bello, however, directed that all civil servants apart from those on level 14 and above to continue to remain at home but exempted those on essential services.

The governor revealed that government will collaborate with the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai for the construction of a testing laboratory in the institution

He disclosed that in all, the state recorded 44 cases of COVID-19, one death, and 26 of the patient were treated, discharged and reunited with their families.

“All the 44 cases are limited to nine local government areas in the state, which are; Chanchaga, Suleja, Rafi, Bida, Shiroro, Borgu, Bosso, Mariga, and Kontagora and the state have established additional quarantine centres in Minna and Suleja to cater for Almajirai before reuniting them with their families.”

Bello further warned that the use of face masks in public places is compulsory, adding that violators would be apprehended and prosecuted by law enforcement agencies.

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COVID-19: Niger relaxes lockdown, opens markets, banks, worship centres