Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, Friday extended the total lockdown of the state by one week.


The governor had ordered the lockdown of the state as part of ongoing efforts to check the spread of COVID-19 in the state.


Ogun State has 95 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Abiodun, who announced the extension of the lockdown during a chat with journalists at the state secretariat in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, said he took the decision because of his belief that human lives are more sacred than economic well-being.


He said the windows for the relaxation of the lockdown remain 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.


The governor added that the curfew and ban on non-essential inter-state travel still stand.


Abiodun said: “The entire people of Ogun State, have not elected me to make easy decisions. And tough decisions, we have to make. Now, to preserve the lives of our people, we are persuaded to extend the currently modified lockdown, which has been slightly eased, for another one week alongside the current guidelines. This will be reviewed, as usual, on a weekly basis.



“Let me state that we appreciate that the cost of not easing the lockdown. It all boils down to the debate of welfare over wellbeing, between life and livelihood. While it will be great to have a thriving economy, we also realize that humans are the main beneficiaries of thriving economies. The question is, how much is a human life worth to us? This is not a popularity contest.


“The fact is that the economy can only run if there are humans to run it. And, when human lives are involved, we have chosen human lives over and above other considerations.


“We should always remember that we are the closest in proximity to Lagos, the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. It is not a matter to be taken lightly. As the number of positive cases in Lagos increases, we, in Ogun State, must be concerned about possible spillover, particularly as our people continue to travel across state lines, despite warnings and the ban on interstate travels.