From Beatrice GONDYI, Bauchi
Governor Bala Mohammed has ordered a partial lockdown on Thursday for the state beginning from Sunday 26 from 2 pm.
The governor announced that congregational prayers including Friday Muslim payers and Sunday Church services are also suspended beginning from Thursday, 23 April.
In a surprise move, Governor Mohammed also banned commercial motorcyclists popularly known as okadas and Almajiri, saying they would cease to operate in the state as they pose serious health challenges in the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID19).
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The governor in a statewide broadcast also directed the suspension of all markets activities in the state except essential food items such as grain, vegetables. Others he said include departmental stores, pharmacies, supermarkets.
The governor who said that his administration has come up with a robust template to sustain the partial lockdown, also banned Muslim Friday Congregational prayers, church services, parties, birthday celebration, night clubs, and other social services.
Mohammed who stated that the partial lockdown would have a human face announced that market activities would, however, be allowed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 am to 2:00 pm.
For the Ramadan, the governor who promised that the administration would sponsor all Tafsir programmes on radio and television, enjoined Muslims to stay at home.
He advised that all physical prayer during the Ramadan, including Tafsir, Tarawihe (night prayers), Tahajut are banned saying that Muslim faithful should remain at home and observed them by maintaining social distancing.
