The Ogun State Government has ordered the shutdown of all borders with neighbouring states and the international border with the Republic of Benin.

States in the South-West, including Lagos and Oyo, with high number of Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases would be affected by this directive of border closure.

The government, which made this announcement on Saturday, March 28th, 2020, explained that the border shutdown would take effect on Sunday, March 29th, 2020 at 12 midnight.

In a statement signed by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, the government said that in the first instance, the border closure would last for two weeks.

The statement read,

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 seaports 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.

However, the government clarified that the only exceptions to the interstate restrictions are vehicles carrying officials involved in essential services like security agencies, health workers, food and medical items and petroleum products.

COVID-19: OGUN ANNOUNCES CLOSURE OF BORDERS

Ogun State Government has announced the closure of its borders with the neighbouring states and the international border with the Republic of Benin. pic.twitter.com/7xYL7Ixb1B

— Ogun State Government – OGSG (@OGSGofficial) March 28, 2020

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.