COVID-19: Ogun shuts borders with Lagos, Oyo, others to stem spread of virus

The Ogun State government led by Dapo Abiodun has shut its borders with neighbouring states in the South West including Lagos and Oyo in a bid to curtail the spread of COVID-19.

This was revealed in a statement issued on Saturday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kunle Somorin, who also noted that the international border with the Republic of Benin has also been shut.

Somorin revealed further that the border which closure would be in force for two weeks in the first instance, would be effected at 12 midnight on Sunday, 29th March 2020.

The statement issued by Somorin stated further that; “With this restriction order, movement in and out of the state has been banned as a further measure to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

“The state is constrained to effect border closure in order to stem and flatten the curve of the spread of the dreaded coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, not only in the state but in the country and in the West African sub-region.

“The position of Ogun State is peculiar. It not only shares an international border with the Republic of Benin, but it also does so with all other states in the South West (except Ekiti), including Lagos State, which has understandably recorded the highest number of infections in the country largely because it hosts the busiest air and sea ports and it’s the nation’s economic capital.

“The border closure will not only be beneficial to Ogun State but the national efforts to curtail and contain the virus. Lessons from other climes strongly indicate that closure of borders has the potential to drastically flatten the curve of spread whilst unrestricted movement portends grave dangers.”