Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu has come out to say that locking down the state was compulsory to curb the spread of the dreaded coronavirus pandemic in Delta.

Speaking to newsmen on the result of the meeting between Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led Central Committee on Prevention of COVID-19 Pandemic in Delta with chairmen of local government councils in the state, Charles revealed that the decision was taken to safeguard the lives of citizens against the coronavirus.

According to him, council chairmen must sensitize local communities on the virus and ensure complete compliance of all measures announced by the state government, in their domains as custodians at the grassroots.

He added that if people do not move, the virus will move so steps had to be taken for people to remain at home and for the prevention of allowing the virus into the state.

His words, “If people don’t move, the virus will not move and so, we appeal to our people to assist the government in averting the spread into our state.

“The governor today (yesterday) continued the sensitisation of key stakeholders in the state. This afternoon, we held meetings with chairmen of local government councils with the Commissioner of Police and others in attendance.

“The essence is to inform them of the steps we have taken as a state, and also intimate them on the need for them to go back to their different local governments and continue the sensitisation and be part of the different actions we have also taken.

“Emphasising the need for people to stay at home, the governor has directed that from 6 a.m. on Sunday, no vehicle will be allowed in or out of the state, while on April 1, all markets will be closed.

“So, we need the cooperation of the local governments to be able to take these messages to their people and also ensure that they cooperate with the security agencies in their different domains with a view to ensuring effective implementation of these decisions that the government has taken.

“We are happy to report that the chairmen have already started taking actions and what they are doing will deepen our desire to get our people to understand why we have to shut down at a time like this. We give God the glory that up till this time, we don’t have it and we pray we don’t have it.”