Kaduna pledges stricter penalty against curfew breakers, set to distribute palliatives

Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has warned residents that stricter measure to enforce the lockdown against COVID-19 waits if the people breach the 24 hour curfew in the state.

In a statement on behalf of the governor by his Deputy, Hafiz Balarabe yesterday, lamented the breaches of the curfew by individuals and religious clerics in the past, saying that government will not spare any violator of the lockdown in the state, no matter how highly placed.

He added that they’re set to start the distribution of palliatives to the less privileged in various communities in the state in order to cushion the effects of the lockdown.

Although, El–Rufai himself is under self isolation, he said that after six days of the stay-at-home order, they relaxed the curfew to enable people re-stock on food and other sundry supplies, last Wednesday 1st to Thursday 2nd April 2020″, noting that “A two-day window will be opened every week, Tuesday and Wednesday, to enable residents replenish their food supplies.”

” I want to emphasize that Covid-19 is no respecter of persons, it can affect anyone rich or poor. We have reviewed the situation with security agencies to ramp up enforcement of the restriction of movement in the interest of the safety of everyone. The quarantine is fully in place and anyone who runs afoul of the law will be dealt with irrespective of his or her status.”

Besides, the Governor further stressed that “Government has identified a location that will be used as an isolation centre for asymptomatic people”, adding that “the States Facility Management Agency has been mandated to quickly renovate and make the identified location conducive and purpose-specific for these categories of individuals. Government has bought palliatives in the form of food items and other commodities, to be distributed to the vulnerable members of the society. Right now, the palliatives have been sent to some identified local governments in the first instance for onward distribution to clusters and households.”