Coronavirus: Rivers State To Close Air, Land, And Water Borders

The Government of Rivers State has said that it will be closing all its borders: land, sea, and air, effective from Thursday, March 26, 2020.

This announcement was made in a televised broadcast on Wednesday by the Governor of the state, Nyesom Wike, as part of the measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The governor said that the move to close all borders was spurred by recent developments observed by the state, adding that the closure of these borders will begin from 6 am at the aforementioned date.

He said, “The State Security Council has taken the following painful decisions: With effect from 6pm on Thursday, March 26, 2020, the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, will not be open to air traffic.

“While we may not have the right to stop flights from entering Port Harcourt, we cannot allow anybody coming from the airport to enter our state. We are confident that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and other federal agencies will cooperate with us. All land and sea borders will be closed.

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“Vehicular movements in an out of the state have been banned. In essence, no vehicle will leave Rivers State for any other state and no vehicle will be allowed to enter the state. New measures will be put in place until further notice.

“Let me reiterate that security agencies have been empowered to strictly enforce this directive. There will be no room for sacred cows because the virus is no respecter of persons.”