Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, has ordered the immediate opening of the borders of the state.
This development is coming based on the recommendations of the COVID-19 Task Force, after reviewing the situation of the state during the partial lockdown.
According to the statement issued on the official Twitter handle of the state government on Monday night, all roadblocks at the entry points of the state will be removed immediately, and officials will no longer be sent there on patrols.
Henceforth, only roadblocks within the state will enforce the 8 pm-5 am curfew.
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The Kaduna State Government has directed the immediate removal of roadblocks at the various boundaries of the state.
Barricades placed at the entry points are to be removed forthwith, while KDSG officials will no longer be posted for boundary patrols. pic.twitter.com/uIDOrCTBOF— Inside Kaduna (@InsideKaduna_) June 15, 2020
Findings from the state Taskforce on COVID-19 had revealed that the closure of roads and borders were causing economic hardship for residents of Kaduna, as security officials used the opportunity to extort vehicles conveying food and other essential items.
“The ban of interstate travel by the FG as part of Covid-19 containment efforts has largely been observed in the breach by the people charged with enforcing it. The conduct of such officials is also jeopardising the timely and cost-effective delivery of essential goods,” the statement read.
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He noted that the deployment of senior officials of the Kaduna State government to the entry points was a sacrifice to help check the spread of COVID-19, but this effort was being frustrated by the lacklustre attitude shown by security agencies in enforcing the restrictions.
There had been complaints from the public that the restrictions on movement were not being enforced, and had instead become a means for security agencies to enrich themselves while allowing deliberate breaches.
Kaduna state government, with this directive, has become the first state to lift the ban on the inter-state movement earlier declared by the Federal Government on March 29.