Osun and Gombe states have announced closures of their borders as the coronavirus battle gets tougher.
Others such as Rivers, Kogi, Oyo and Kwara had earlier taken similar routes.
The Osun Government, on Friday, announced the closure of its borders as part of measures to check the spread of the coronavirus in the state.
Mr Wole Oyebamiji, the Secretary to the State Government, who made the announcement on Friday in Osogbo, said the closure would take effect from Saturday.
Oyebamiji said that all major markets as well as shopping malls would also be shut, with the exception of pharmaceutical, foods and medical needs outlets.
He also said that government was limiting the boarding capacity of vehicles operating within the state as part of ongoing measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
The SSG said all motorcycles would henceforth be allowed to carry only one passenger, while all mini-buses would carry only four passengers with one passenger in front, one in the middle and two at the back seat.
Oyebamiji advised all returnees from the United Kingdom, United States and other high risk countries, who returned to Osun in the last two weeks, to call the state’s emergency number 293 for instructions on how to stay safe.
Also, Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State announced the suspension of inter-state travel from midnight of Sunday March 30.
Yahaya said this in Gombe on Friday, during a news conference on preparedness of the state to curb spread of Corona virus (COVID-19).
“Although we have not recorded any case of Corona virus in the state, however, we want to take precautions like others where inter-state travel has been restricted to curtail spread of the disease.
“I want the general public to know that the restriction affects both commercial and private vehicles,” he said.
The governor also said that public gathering of all nature would be suspended from March 27; and called on community and traditional leaders to ensure compliance by their subjects.
He advised all religious leaders to ensure that gathering of faithful did not exceed 50 persons to prevent possible infection among worshipers.
The governor further ordered all civil servants on Grade Level 12 downwards, to stay at home and work.
According to him, the restriction does not affect security agencies, medical personnel, those supplying water, and other essential and utility services.
“The enforcement is very necessary because public compliance in the state is not encouraging in spite of government’s directive that people should maintain social distance to curtail the spread of the disease.
“Now, we have decided to use security agencies in the state to ensure people comply,” he said.
Also speaking at the conference, Prof. Idris Mohammed, Chairman of the state’s Taskforce on Corona virus, urged the people to take the COVID-19 outbreak serious because the world had not experienced a pandemic of such nature in the last 100 years.
“The entire world is observing social distancing and other measures to protect themselves, we should also comply to avert devastating effects like other countries,” Mohammed said.
