The Governor of Kaduna State, Governor El-Rufai has announced that the quarantine orders in the state have been extended to another 30 days, effective 26th April 2020.
The Governor who made this known on Sunday 26th April 2020,in his official social media handle, said the decision to extend the quarantine orders was done following a recommendation by the state standing Committee on COVID-19 chaired by the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Hadia Balarabe.
Before the quarantine orders extension by the Kaduna State Governor, other Governors in Nigeria are already calling for a two weeks extension, while others are calling for the lifting of lockdown.
The State Governors were reported to be calling for the relaxation of the current lockdown in the country on account of the coronavirus pandemic.
Although nothing has been made official, the Governors are said to be much in favour of partial restrictions in 33 of the 36 states intending to mitigate the effects of the current lockdown in many parts of the country as against the relaxation being sought by the governors.
Governors Willie Obiano of Anambra State and Seyi Makinde have already relaxed the restrictions in their states.
The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 which President Muhammadu Buhari relies on principally for advice on the pandemic is not in agreement with the governors that government should soft-pedal in the FCT, Lagos, Ogun and Kano States.
Members of the PTF were locked in a marathon meeting on Saturday on the format of the partial restrictions to put in place in 33 states without fueling the spread of the Coronavirus.
The task force considered the status report on COVID-19 spread in each state of the federation, the input of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and local and international technical evaluation of the pandemic in the country.
Nigerians are now awaiting the Presidential address on Monday or Tuesday, to know if the lockdown will be extended for yet another two weeks, or the President would lift the lockdown order.