COVID-19: Jigawa assembly adjourns sitting for 30 days

The Jigawa state House of Assembly (JSHA) on Monday adjourned sitting for 30 days as part of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Chairman, House Committee on Information, Alhaji Aminu Zakari, stated this while briefing newsmen in Dutse on Tuesday.

Zakari said the action was imperative to facilitate successful campaign to contain the spread of the virus in the state.

He added that members of the house were also directed to return to their respective constituencies, stay at home, as well as minimise movement and gathering, so as to avoid contracting the virus.

“The House sat briefly and decided to suspend sitting from today March 24 to April 24. This is as a result of current global issue on Coronavirus, which we used to hear in other parts of the world before.

“It is now in Nigeria. For instance, in the last three weeks we had not more than two reported cases but as at today, we have not less than 40 reported cases.

“So for this reason, and as it was earlier directed for the closure of schools and airports, so also the House deems it fit to suspend its activities for 30 days.

“Also, each member of the House was directed to go back to his constituency, stay at home and avoid or minimise movement and gathering.

“This is because politicians, as you know when they are at home their residences will be like a market place due to the presence of supporters and others,” he said.

The chairman pointed out that minimising movement and gathering would assist in curbing the spread of the virus.

According to him, the lawmakers were expected to lead by example by minimising their movements and gathering with members of their respective constituencies.

The chairman urged the media to continue to educate Nigerians on the symptoms and preventive measures of the virus and its spread.

“I want to use this opportunity to call on the media to continue to educate people on the symptoms and preventive measures of the virus,” he said.

In a related development, the state government had on Monday confirmed three persons who had just returned to Nigeria from the lesser hajj in Saudi Arabia were tested and found to be negative.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abba Zakari, who disclosed this to newsmen in Dutse said that the persons, including a four-year-old boy, were subjected to test after exhibiting symptoms related to the virus.

He also announced that the state had inaugurated an 18-member Task-force aimed at containing COVID-19 pandemic in the state.