There Will Not Be Lockdown During Palliatives Distribution – Makinde

By Abiodun Ogunrinde

Oyo state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has said the state will not be locked down totally during the distribution of palliatives to cushion the effects of the stay-at-home order neccessitated by the coronavirus pandemic.

Makinde disclosed this on today in a telephone interview on a popular radio station in Ibadan, Fresh FM, while giving update on Covid-19 pandemic in the state.

He added that the distribution will be done simultaneously across the 33 local government areas in the state.

He said “It will be done simultaneously in all the local governments this week but there won’t be a total lock down for the purpose as suggested by the committee in charge.”

Makinde also explained the reason why the state Secretariat was opened to business despite the
covid-19 pandemic saying it was to strike a balance between the physical health and the economic health of the state.

Governor Makinde stressed that those in this cadre have their separate offices and meetings will be held on-line while visitors will be restricted so that all precautionary measures will
be taken.

The governor reminded his listeners that workers got their salaries last Friday 24th of the month
and some people will have to do the work.

Asked if he was satisfied with the limited rate of testing which as at the time of the interview
stood at six hundred plus,Engr Makinde used the opportunity to express gratitude to all members
of the covid 19 team and stressed that actions are taken based on the advice of experts.

He recollected that when he tested positive, all around him were tested and out of thirteen, only
one tested positive and the same method is used to ascertain potential carriers when we see
somebody positive.

On the protection for health workers, the governor said he has just approved a package for them
including volunteers and that some of his Special Advisers are already working out the modality to
manufacture the materials locally which obviously would be one of the gains after the pandemic.

Speaking on the communication gap between the state government and the University College Hospital, Ibadan, the governor stated that the two had been working harmoniously until there was a
little friction but disclosed that a line of action is already in place to have a better relationship.

On the level of compliance to the government directives on partial lock down, the governor said
all avenues are being exploited not to put the people at risk including the use of technology, he however stressed that if any community is found suspicious to harbour the pandemic, the government would not hesitate to lock down the
community.