- Inaugurates Mobile Courts
By John Oghojafor (The New Diplomat’s South South Bureau Chief)
As the lockdown in Delta State enters its day 9, the level of compliance from citizens has substantially increased even as Governor Ifeanyi Okowa continues to step up machinery for punitive and deterrent measures to prosecute violators of the sit-at-home order targeted at stopping the spread of Coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria.
This is as Governor Okowa on Monday, April 7 put in place three mobile magistrate courts across three senatorial districts of the state to try violators of the lockdown order.
Recall Delta reported its index case of Coronavirus on Tuesday and efforts are underway to prevent the spread of the deadly virus in the state.
Inaugurating the courts in Asaba recently, Hon. Justice Umukoro disclosed that they were situated in Asaba, Ughelli and Warri.
In a statement issued by E. Z. Dolor, Chief Registrar, High Court of Justice, Delta State, on behalf of the chief judge, he said the three designated courts will try offenders in the three senatorial districts in the state.
Meanwhile, with the setting up of the mobile courts and increase in security enforcement of the stay-at-home order, there appears to be a substantial compliance by Deltans.
Our correspondents who monitored the compliance level in major cities of Asaba, Kwale, Agbor, Ughelli, Sapele and Warri report that as the lockdown enters the 9th day with increased sensitization from both state and local governments, people have seen the need to remain at home, with the anticipation that the order will be relaxed after the two weeks.
According to our correspondents, major streets in the cities of Warri, Asaba, Ughelli and others visited were devoid of the usual burstling of vehicular movements and pedestrians.
They also report that the usual sight of boys playing footballs in empty roads and streets have disappeared.
A community youth leader in Ughelli who spoke with our correspondent, Michael Oteri, explained that they have decided to remain at home in obedience to the government order because of the damage the disease is causing in other countries and especially the fear that a case of a confirmed index has been recorded in the state.
He said: “No more playing of football in the street, my brother. What we watch in the TV, in other countries is enough lesson for one to learn from. The recent discovery of the Covid-19 virus index in Delta State shows that the virus is spreading very fast and it could just be around in the neighborhood.
“We have no other option than to stay at our homes, wash our hands with soap and keep social distances as the government has instructed.”
Meanwhile, the state government has stepped up security machinery to arrest and prosecute violators of the stay-at-home order.
Speaking in Asaba recently, the governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa warned that the government will not hesitate to deal with anyone who breach the order to stay-at-home, adding that the security and courts have been empowered to ensure compliance. He however encouraged the people to comply, adding that it is a worthwhile sacrifice to stay alive.
Our correspondent also report that miffed by the discovery of an infected person in the state, the government has decided to scale up its security apparatus, not only to prevent any new confirmed cases from outside the state, but also to seriously engaged in contact tracing to identify those who had contacts with the index case.
While stepping up the process of contact tracing of those who interacted with the index case before he was tested to be positive, our correspondent reports that the possibility of the state government extending the lockdown period cannot be ruled out.
This position, our correspondent gathered, was supported by a traditional ruler in Warri, the Etsu Nupe of Warri, Alhaji Zuberu Mohammed Tajudeen, who urged Gov. Okowa to extend the lockdown of the state.
He said: “Governor Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa should not relax the lockdown. We don’t know what’s going on. We don’t want this sickness to come and affect our people.”
The traditional ruler also used the occasion to call on Gov. Okowa to, as a matter of urgency, provide palliatives to Deltans who have been constrained to stay at home, adding that some people’s means of livelihood is by their daily jobs which they do.
“Many people don’t work for now. Many are just stuck in their homes without food. The boys may soon be attempting to engage in crime because there is no food”, he said.
All attempts to get the updated position of the state government from the Commissioner of Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, has so far proved abortive.
