Edo government extends dusk-to-dawn curfew by 14 days

• Benin monarch gives food items, others to NUJ

Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has extended the dusk-to dawn curfew in the state from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. for the next 14 days. The Obaseki-led government had on April 19, 2020 announced a 10-day dusk-to-dawn curfew to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Obaseki, who spoke yesterday at a media briefing in Benin to update the state on the progress made so far to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the state, said: “Since my last public update about 10 days ago, I am here to inform you that we have made tremendous progress in the area of screening, testing and improved awareness of our citizens about the virus.

“Working closely with public and private hospitals, we have screened about 20,000 people and tested 297 citizens. This increased screening and testing is the reason for the increased number of cases in the state.

“We are aggressively pushing to screen our minimum target of about 500,000 people and test about one per cent of them which is about 5,000 in the next few weeks.

“As we increase testing, we are likely to see an astronomic rise in the number of cases in the state.

“Of the 20,000 people we have screened and the 297 samples taken, we have recorded 37 confirmed cases as of today, discharged eight and lost three people.

“It is worthy of note that late testing was a strong factor leading to fatality. That is why I am advising that everybody go out for screening at the numerous screening centres in the state.”

Meanwhile, the Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare II, yesterday donated food items and Personal Protective Equipments (PPE) to the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as part of efforts to cushion the effects of COVID-19 lockdown in Edo State.

The royal father said he recognised the role of journalists in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic and expressed hope that the palliatives would propel them “to do more for the state and nation.”

The Obasogie of Benin Kingdom, Chief Eduwu Ekhator, who led other palace chiefs for the presentation of the items, which include 50 bags of rice, 50 bags of beans, 50 cartons of noodles, sanitisers and nose-masks, at the secretariat of the NUJ, Edo State Council, said: “The Oba directed that NUJ should be the first port of call in the distribution of palliatives.

“This is because the Fourth Estate of Realm cannot be undermined. The challenge is everywhere; not here alone. It’s worldwide.” Ekhator said the initiative would be extended to villages in the kingdom and beyond.