By Pita Chib, Minna

Niger State Government has  with effect from Sunday relaxed the on going lockdown  from 2pm to 10pm to enable people to stock food and other essentials.

The Secretary to the State Government, Ibrahim Maitane, disclosed this to newsmen in Minna Sunday.

Maitane said that government had  earlier imposed restriction on movement from 10am to 12 midnight following residents' non -compliance to the sit-at-home order as well as nonchalant attitude of some people towards the prevision of COVID-19 in the state.

According to him, " in this new order of relaxing curfew, civil servants on grade level 1-12 earlier directed to stay home as part of measures taken by government to curb the spread of COVID-19 are now to resume work on Monday April ,6 2020 from 8am to 2pm."

The SSG who is also Chairman of Niger State Task Force on COVID-19,  disclosed that intra and inter-state movement of people and vehicles across the state remain banned, local government areas that share common border with neighboring states to ensure effective monitoring of people and vehicles coming into the local government areas.

He said , "All entering point to the state remains close except those on essential services. Markets to open from 8am to 2pm to enable people to buy food stuffs and other essential services."

Maitane however observed with dismay that  many people in spite of the strict measures on ground, do not respect the social distancing appeals and directives as they go around congregating and gathering for social, religious and other purposes without regard to the high infectious rate of the COVID-19.

He said, "If drastic and sustained actions are not taken and the disease emerges in its whirling speed and spread in Niger State,the existing health facilities and infrastructures will grossly be inadequate to deal with the challenges and this will lead to health and economic crises of unimaginable proportion."

SSG advised people to discard the insinuation going round the state that government has banned call to prayers, adding that it is totally not true but hand work of mischief makers to smear the good intentions of the present administration.