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Reason I relaxed coronavirus lockdown – Obiano

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The Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, has given reasons for the relaxation of the lockdown imposed on the state for 28 days to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Obiano, on Monday, said he relaxed the restriction to avoid possible social unrest and hunger amongst the people.

The governor, in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C-Don Adinuba, noted that in the flight against COVID-19 one should strike a balance between protecting the economy and public health.

He said the easing of the restrictions followed the treatment of the state’s COVID-19 index case as well as 68 contact persons who tested negative.

He said,

“Like every other government, the Anambra State administration is bound to protect its people from the ravages of COVID-19, but it cannot afford to do so by unwittingly allowing millions of its people to die of hunger and starvation or by causing their businesses to collapse through an unmitigated lockdown.

“The 28 days of lockdown, when all markets were shut down, vehicular and human movements restricted, schools closed, traditional religious services suspended, funerals, wedding and title taking ceremonies practically stopped, have already taken enormous toll on the people’s well being.

“Social unrest must be avoided. If people in developed nations could not accept more than three weeks of lockdown, despite the immense social safety nets for the poor and the huge amounts paid by governments directly to the citizens who lost their jobs in the wake of COVID-19, we can imagine what the most vulnerable in our society and elsewhere in Africa have been going through.

“Sight should not be lost on the fact that appropriate restrictions remain in the state. Schools are not yet open. Most civil servants still work from home. Burials, funerals, title taking and award ceremonies and marriages are still not taking place because they are likely to attract more than 30 persons in each instance.

He maintained that vehicles were not yet allowed from other states into Anambra State, adding “boundaries are now policed with greater vigour.”

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