Text of the Address by His Excellency, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, CON Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria on the occasion of the address titled: WE MUST DO MORE TO PREVENT AN OUTBREAK IN EKITI STATE at Government House, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State on Sunday, March 29, 2020

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Text of the Address by
His Excellency
Dr. Kayode Fayemi, CON
Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria
on the occasion of the address titled:
WE MUST DO MORE TO PREVENT AN OUTBREAK IN EKITI STATE
at
Government House, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State
on
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Ekiti-kete,
1. On Friday, March 20th 2020, I addressed you on the global scourge of
the novel coronavirus named COVID-19 and its presence in Ekiti
State as well as on the immediate actions we were taking to prevent
the virus and curtail its spread.
2. I am glad to report that as at this morning, Ekiti State has not
recorded any additional case of confirmed coronavirus patient while
our single patient is doing very well in our isolation center, still
without showing any symptom. We are hopeful that his repeat test
will come back negative so he can be discharged soon.
3. I also want to acknowledge the patriotic residents who have acted
responsibly in public interest by complying with the initial
guidelines issued in my broadcast as part of our strategy to prevent
the spread of coronavirus in Ekiti State. However, it is very
disappointing that some of us have either been lukewarm,

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nonchalant or downright defiant in observing the simple but
extremely effective preventive actions of hand washing with soap
under running water, coughing into the inner elbow and maintaining
social distancing to protect themselves from infection and curtail the
spread of the virus in their communities.
4. While I acknowledge our resilient nature, incurable optimism and
spiritual activism as a people, it is critical that we balance these with
pragmatic and urgent actions that can ensure the safety of lives for
our families and communities. Unlike any other infection, the COVID-
19 strain of coronavirus is a type the world has never seen, so there
is no verified cure or medication to manage the effects of an
infection. The only proven means of defeating this lethal enemy of
the human race is PREVENTION. And these preventive steps must be
taken individually and collectively for it to be effective.
5. With the devastating impact this virus is having on more developed
countries like the United States, United Kingdom, China, Italy, Spain
and over 140 countries across the world, it is very clear to us that
Nigeria, and especially Ekiti State, cannot afford a breakout of this
virus on a large scale as we do not have the resources, human and
financial, to cope with a surge in positive cases of the coronavirus
infection.
6. If we do not take steps necessary to contain this virus, it has the
potential to overwhelm our health infrastructure, cripple our
economy and devastate Ekiti State in unimaginable proportions. As
you are aware, the State is under significant financial constraints
especially as a direct consequence of the impact of the coronavirus
on the global economy and the price of crude oil that has gone down
considerably. So, we cannot afford a public health crisis.
7. It is in urgent public interest that we must ensure strict compliance
with all directives given to prevent community spreading of the

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disease. Therefore, in our collective interest and to further ensure
the safety of Ekiti-kete, having declared Coronavirus (COVID- 19) an
infectious disease in Ekiti State, I hereby, in pursuant to Section 8 of
the Quarantine Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended)
impose a curfew of movement in Ekiti State.
8. The purpose of this curfew is to impose restrictions on the
movement of persons and goods within Ekiti State for an initial
period of fourteen days. This is in order to prevent the spread of
Coronavirus in Ekiti State.
9. Therefore, effective from 23H59 (11:59pm) on Monday, March 30,
2020 until 23H59 (11:59pm) on Monday, April 13, 2020, there shall
be restriction of movement across the length and breadth of Ekiti
State, with all our borders closed. That is a full and total shut down
of Ekiti State, and a 12-hour dusk to dawn curfew in Ekiti State from
7:00pm – 7:00 am. All Ekiti residents are hereby directed to STAY –
AT – HOME.
10. We are implementing the Quarantine Act to keep all Ekiti
residents safe. So let me be clear. If you do not go home or stay home
for at least fourteen (14) days as from Monday, 30 March, 2020, you
could face serious fines or prison term.
11. RESTRICTED MOVEMENT: During this period, movement
between local governments is prohibited; movement between
towns, villages and communities is also prohibited; every person
shall be confined to the place where he or she ordinarily resides in
Ekiti State.
12. EXCEPTIONAL MOVEMENTS: Those who are performing
essential services will be allowed to move around, particularly
health workers, but must be duly designated with an identity card by

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the Head of their Institutions. Individuals and institutions providing
the following services shall be exempted from the restrictions:
i. Members of the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary;
ii. Production, distr ibution and marketing of food and beverages,
pharmaceuticals, medicine, paper and plastic packages
iii. Environmental and sanitation activities
iv. Staff of electricity, water, telecommunications, e-commerce
and digital service providers;
v. Members of security agencies assigned on lawful duties;
vi. Staff of Banks and similar financial institutins;
vii.
Staff of fuel stations.
13. MARKETS / BUSINESSES CLOSED: All businesses and other
entities shall cease operations during this period except those
involved in the provision of essential goods or services. Markets,
retail shops and shopping malls must be closed, except where
essential goods are sold and with strict hygienic conditions to
prevent the exposure of persons to COVID-19.
14. PROHIBITED GATHERINGS: Religious gatherings e.g. worship
and prayer services, night vigils, house fellowships and NASFAT
meetings; Social gatherings e.g. Funerals, weddings, family meetings
and parties of any kind in night clubs, bars, beer joints; and Political
gatherings, e.g. rallies, congresses, ward meetings. All of these are
prohibited activities under these regulations.

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15. EXCEPTIONAL GATHERING: Only gathering in respect of
funeral will be allowed but the attendance shall be limited to 20
persons with no night vigil or party.
16. CLOSURE OF BOUNDARIES: All boundaries of Ekiti State are
closed during this period, except for transportation of fuel, food and
drugs and other essential goods. All non-residents who arrive the
State prior to, or after, the imposition of this restriction, and who
remain in the State, must remain in their place of temporary
residence in the State for the duration of the 14 days, as the case may
be, and may be subjected to screening for COVID-19 and
be quarantined or isolated if necessary.
17. PROHIBITION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT: All commuter
transport services including bus services, taxi services, motor bikes
(Okada) and tricycle services (Keke), is prohibited; except those for
purposes of rendering essential services, obtaining essential goods,
seeking medical attention, funeral services and to receive payment
of social grants or food: Provided that such vehicle carries not more
than 50% of the licensed capacity and all directions in respect of
hygienic conditions and the limitation of exposure of persons to
COVID-19, are adhered to.
18. PENALTIES: Any person who contravenes these regulations
shall be guilty of an offence and, on conviction, liable to a fine or to
imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such
fine and imprisonment.
19. Ekitikete, this administration is fully aware of the
inconvenience these directives will have on our daily lives and
livelihoods but it is the sacrifice we must all make to remain healthy
and alive. To make this a little easier for us all, I hereby announce the

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following palliative measures especially for our high risk and
vulnerable citizens.
a. March salaries have been paid last Thursday, 26th March so that
civil and public servants can stock up on food and essential
items necessary for the Stay-At-Home period. This was despite
the fact that the FAAC disbursement for March was significantly
lower than our salaries and many other states have found it
difficult to pay March salaries. We are however hopeful that
subsequent months will not fail, though the implications of the
global economy are not very encouraging as IMF formally
announced that the world is now in recession due to the
coronavirus pandemic.
b. I have directed that the Ekiti State Food Bank be reactivated
immediately to provide food items to the poor and vulnerable
families in our communities. The Task Force will announce the
modalities as soon as the process is fully activated.
c. The State Government will consider providing a stipend to our
self-employed citizens whose daily income will be interrupted
at this time as subsidy for their loss of income. I have directed
the Commissioners of Finance and Budget to advise on the
amount the State can afford in view of our dire financial
constraints.
d. We shall commence the disinfecting of major public places like
markets, bus stops, motor parks, health facilities, and all likely
places where the virus may be lurking across our State.
Already, a massive cleanup and disinfection is ongoing in some
locations in Ado Ekiti e.g. Atikankan, Irona and Oja Oba areas
and I am aware some Local Government Chairmen are already

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taking initiatives to dredge and clear drains within their
jurisdictions.
e. Massive advocacy and sensitization is ongoing to advise you on
the necessary preventive measures and how to identify and
manage the symptoms of COVID-19 as well as what to do when
you notice symptoms of fever, coughing, diarrhea or difficult
breathing. Please remember that anyone can carry the
coronavirus even if they do not have any of these symptoms;
that is why you must wash your hands regularly and abstain
from bodily contact at this time
f. To protect our senior citizens who have been proven to be most
vulnerable to this deadly virus please do not visit your elderly
parents or family at this time to prevent the risk of infecting
them. If they live with you, please keep them separate as much
as possible. Do not let them share common household items
like plates, spoons, towels, soaps at this period. We must keep
them safe and healthy as much as we can.
20. Ekitikete, it is necessary to let you know that though this virus
is deadly, a positive result is not a death sentence. Anyone showing
symptoms is most likely going to get better but may be very sick for
some time, depending on the capacity of his/her body to fight the
infection. Instead of stigmatizing anyone with symptoms, they
should be cared for in accordance with medical advisory while the
caregivers must ensure they protect themselves from being infected.
Please call the Emergency Number 112 or 09062970434,
09062970435 and 09062970436 if anyone around you is showing
symptoms, but first, isolate them from the rest of the family.
21. I have also directed the Ministry of Health to begin the process
of establishing a second isolation center in Ado Ekiti. We currently

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have a 10-bed Isolation Center but we must begin to increase our
capacity up to 100 beds with necessary medical equipment required
to manage suffering patients. We have also ordered more PPE for our
medical personnel to protect them from infection while caring for
the sick.
22. This war against the coronavirus COVID-19 is a global one.
Nigeria is just joining this global battle and we are doing everything
possible nationally and at state levels to protect our citizens from
this deadly virus. However, a time like this calls for better
coordination among all stakeholders – Federal, State, development
partners and private sector in order to stem the tide of this
pandemic. One area that States have been speaking with one voice is
the importance of ramping up on testing. The World Health
Organisation (WHO) advisory is to test, test and test. We need the
Federal Government to accelerate the establishment of more testing
centres whilst at the same time allowing testing to be done by
private laboratories and also give approval for the use of quick test-
kits as a way of halting community spread of the virus.
23. Another key request of States is that the Federal Government
enable a joined-up strategy for addressing the economic
implications of the pandemic by providing stimulus for those likely
to be affected by loss of income and to States and Local Governments
directly hit by the impact of the measures taken.
24. This is a very expensive battle, especially for us in Ekiti State,
where we can barely meet our regular obligations. I have therefore
been holding meetings with development partners, philanthropic
bodies and federal agencies to assist us in preventing an outbreak in
Ekiti State by providing access to some of the support available
nationally. We have also set up an Ekiti State COVID-19 PANDEMIC

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SUPPORT ACCOUNT with UBA Current Account Number
1022752067 for donations towards our efforts in this regard.
25. I want to thank all our citizens and political leaders who are
providing hand sanitizers and information leaflets to their
constituents as a way to sensitize and educate them on this virus. We
encourage everyone to do all they can to ensure awareness,
compliance and prevention in every farmstead and community in
Ekiti State. While the state government will continue to do all we can,
every family, community, kingdom and local government must also
take responsibility for their area of jurisdiction. All hands must be on
deck to defeat coronavirus in Ekiti State. It must be our collective
responsibility.
26. Ekiti-kete, this indeed is a trying period, not only for our State
or Nation, but for the whole world. I therefore plead for your
understanding and tolerance as we jointly fight and defeat this
monster, COVID-19.
27. As a government, to save the lives of Ekiti-kete is our topmost
priority. Hence, it is my plea to you to continue staying wherever you
are now within Ekiti State.
28. The coming days are definitely going to be unusual and
somewhat unpleasant, but if this is what it takes to ensure our
collective safety, I urge you all to cooperate with the government and
make the sacrifice.
29. The measures we are taking now have been taken by more
advanced and technically prepared government, all in the quest to
curtail the spread of coronavirus and protect the life of the citizenry.
30. Coronavirus is not a respecter of persons, many highly placed
persons have been infected all over the world, including in Nigeria.

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If you or anyone has been in contact with anyone who just arrived
from abroad in the past 7 days, please call the emergency numbers
immediately.
31. You will recall that I also went into self-isolation after I
submitted myself to be tested for coronavirus. I thank you most
sincerely for your concern and prayers, while I waited for my result
which eventually came out negative.
32. I must confess that the period of waiting for the result of my
test was a difficult moment for me. As a responsible leader, my
thought was not about my result, but about people around me and
those I have made contact with. The palpable fear of someone being
infected through me was more tormenting than my own personal
wellbeing.
33. On this note, I implore you to let us take responsibility for our
life and the lives of those around us. All the helplines already given
out are active and will respond in case of an emergency.
34. The Taskforce will continue to update you on the efforts we are
taking to curtail the spread of this virus as earlier announced. Please
avoid spreading rumors or unauthorized medical tips. There are no
known cure for COVID-19 globally yet so please do not endanger
your life by taking any concoction that will harm you out of fear.
35. Ekitikete, this is not the time to be fearful or panic stricken.
COVID-19 is not a death sentence. We are not helpless against it if we
are resolved to prevent it. Keep all the preventive measures, stay at
home and maintain social distancing. Government is determined to
ensure we stop its spread. You also must be determined to do your
part.

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36. Once again, I plead for your usual support and understanding,
and pray that at the end of it all, we will have cause to rejoice and
congratulate ourselves for taking necessary precautions.
37. Alale Ekiti a ja ko a o!
Dr. Kayode Fayemi, CON
Governor