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The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi on Monday exhausted the recommended 14 days’ isolation period and resumed official state functions.
The governor emerged out of solitary confinement and performed his first state functions with the flag off of distribution of palliatives to 20, 000 indigent Ekiti citizens in order to cushion the negatives effect of the lockdown of the state.
While flagging off COVID-19 Response Foodbank, Fayemi stated that: “I just got out of self-isolation this morning and this is the first state function I will perform.
“I decided to keep away from you in order not to return to self-isolation, I had to observe it as part of the ways to checkmate the spread of this virus”.
Fayemi also relaxed the shutdown imposed on the state since March 29, by giving directive that citizens are allowed to reactivate trading activities between 6am and 2pm on Tuesday, April 7 and Thursday, April 9.
He added that harsh measure was taken to protect the lives of the populace in view of the daunting nature of the spread, appealing to residents to persevere in the interest of all and sundry.
“I thank you most sincerely for your understanding, tolerance and support in our collective quest to keep our dear State safe for all and sundry. The threat of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is daunting, but with unity of purpose, we shall overcome.
“As part of the measures to protect our people, we shut down the state on March 29 for the initial 14 days with people restricted to their homes. But on Tuesday, April 7 and Thursday, April 9, our people are allowed to move about between the hours of 6am and 2pm to restock and the details of this will be made available later by the Ministry of Justice.
“As a responsible and responsive government, we are conscious of the hardship the shutdown must have brought on our people, especially the poor and most vulnerable citizens among us.”
Fayemi said the government will work out modalities to give financial supports to those whose businesses had been adversely affected by the restriction slammed on the state to rout COVID- 19.
He said in fulfilment of the promises made to the populace that the food items will be distributed to those who are genuinely in need and who had registered with the Ministry of Budget and Planning as poverty-ridden individuals.
“The targets are the aged, vulnerable and less fortunate in the society and let me say that whoever sabotage the programme will be severely sanctioned.
“We are starting with 20,000 vulnerable households in the first phase with hope that we shall do more within the confines of our resources.
“Under no circumstances should this palliative be tampered with until it gets to the right people. I assure you all that this exercise has no political colouration.
“The allocations will be depoliticised, therefore our community and religious leaders as well as traditional rulers, are actively involved to ensure smooth distribution of the items.
“We appeal to the private organisations to partner us in the task of relieving the pains on our people and we urge those handling this programme to ensure to the stimulus gets to the right people just as we appeal that our people must be careful at this precarious time”, he said.
He noted that the government has begun decontamination through fumigation of public places like markets, hospitals, Motorparks and schools across the state to further mitigate against the monster, COVID-19.
