Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has lifted the lockdown imposed on Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of the state over suspected cases of coronavirus (COVID-19).
The governor had on Monday declared a 14-day total lockdown on the local government as part of measures to limit the spread of the virus.
However, in his announcement on Friday at the Government House in Lokoja, Mr Bello said lifting the lockdown became necessary after samples taken from the LGA returned negative.
He insisted that the state remains coronavirus-free in spite of the three cases confirmed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Bello said: “Our mission in Kabba/Bunu has been accomplished. We have done contact tracing and tested members of the family of the disputed case. They all tested negative. There is no need to continue to lockdown the LGA. I therefore lift the lockdown with immediate effect.”
He also urged residents of the state to adhere to guidelines on containing the spread of COVID-19.
Kogi has been at loggerheads with federal authorities over the management of the deadly virus.
