By Douglas Mojaye & Eseoghene Emuke
Residents of Delta State on Wednesday substantially complied with the sit-at-home order by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa aimed at curtailing the spread of the COVID-19 amid tight security across the state.
Government offices, banks, markets, shops and other servicing providing company were all shut in compliance with the directive.
Our correspondents who monitored the exercise observed that the directive was fully complied with in Warri, Ughelli, Effurun, Sapele, Asaba, Abraka and other parts of the state.
As early as 6am major roads and their adjoining streets were already shut to traffic except tankers and other vehicles conveying essential workers including security agencies, journalists and medical workers that were left on the road.
In Warri and Uvwie, the twin-commercial cities of the state, there was total compliance to the directive as all major markets including the Warri mean market and Effurun market were under lock and key when one of our correspondent visited.
All markets in the state including those of Sapele, Asaba, Ughelli and Abraka were equally deserted by traders.
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Banks and government offices including local government secretariat were also shut in all the areas visited by our correspondent.
The Delta Mall housing the popular Shoprite in Effurun and cinema houses across the state were also in full compliance to the governor’s order.
At the Warri Central Hospital, medical workers including doctors were seen attending to patients in line that hospital and other health institutions should remain opened to residents.
The Medical Director, Warri Central Hospital, Dr. Paul Okubor, told our correspondent that the hospital is in full operation.
He lamented that some of their staff were prevented from resuming to their duty post early enough to attend to patients because of security agencies who restricted their movement.
Dr. Okubor added that their staff were later allow to go work after he intervened.
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On his part, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Enerhen Division, CSP Mutari Bello, told newsmen that the exercise was peaceful and obeyed by residents of his division.
Meanwhile, there was tight security to enforce the sit-at-home order as security operatives blocked all major roads to restrict movement of persons and goods across the state.
Workers on essential services including media workers, medical workers and other few road users were subjected to thorough screening before being allowed to pass.
In Ughelli, the chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Area, Hon. Godwin Adode told journalists that residents of the council had all complied with the state government directive.
Adode, who was monitoring the exercise with the Ughelli Area Commander, stated they would continue to enforce the governor’s directive to prevent the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic from spreading to any part of the state.
