Kaduna State chapter of the Council of Imams and Ulama has appealed to Governor Nasir El-Rufai to relax the existing lockdown imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
Recall that in April 26, the state government, had extended the quarantine order being enforced in the state for another 30 days and reduced the two-day window period for residents to stock up food to one day.
The state chairman of the council, Ibrahim Nakaka, in a statement on Sunday, said that easing the lockdown would assist in alleviating the sufferings of the people.
The statement read in part: “The Council appreciates the good leadership qualities exhibited by the Governor Mallam Nasiru Ahmad el- Rufai, his Deputy Dr Hadiza Balarabe who acted in his absence and the entire state task force committee on COVID-19 in ensuring that the coronavirus does not cause much havoc to the people of Kaduna state compared to its neighboring states where their state government failed to act immediately right from the onset of the pandemic.
“Based on these success, the Council is calling on the state government to begin to look at the possibilities of gradual relaxation of the lockdown process in the state but with stringent conditions of using face masks and intensify grassroots sensitization for hand washing with soap and the use of hand sanitizers as recommended by the public health experts so as to prevent any possible local transmission.
“This, the Council feels will assist in alleviating the sufferings of the people of Kaduna state while at same time not jeopardizing the fight against the dreaded coronavirus.
“The Council is of the opinion that when the free movement is restored in the state, entry borders should still be kept closed, until such a time when the state is safe from cross boarder transmission.”
