COVID-19: Wike Orders Closure Of All Borders

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has ordered for the closure of all borders (air, sea and land routes)  into the state.

Speaking earlier today in Port Harcourt, the state capital, Wike, the said the restriction will take effect from tomorrow at 6 pm, till further notice, as part of measures to protect the state from the coronavirus pandemic. Wike added that all vehicular movements in and out of Rivers State have been banned, as well as public events such as burials and weddings. Public places such as parks, night clubs and cinemas have been closed.

Governor Wike said that the new measures became necessary in view of recent developments and increasing confirmed cases of the virus in Nigeria, and globally.

His statement reads: “It is with gratitude to God that I announce to you that our State would have been infected with coronavirus yesterday, but for the vigilance of security agents who, acting on a tip-off prevented an infected person from boarding a flight from Abuja to Port Harcourt.

“The infected person beat all security measures that were put in place at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Abuja and was to sneak into Port Harcourt before security agents stopped her.

“Based on this alarming Information, the State Security Council met yesterday and reviewed measures already put in place and decided that there was urgent need to adopt stringent measures to protect those living and doing business in the state from the virus.”

According to Governor Wike, the council decided that with effect from 6pm on Thursday, March 26, 2020, the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa will not be open to air traffic.

“While we may not have the right to stop flights from entering Port Harcourt, we cannot allow anybody coming from the airport to enter our State. We are confident that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other federal agencies will cooperate with us,” Wike said.

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