South Western Nigerian State Bars Foreigners, Non-Residents From Participating In Famous Osun Osogbo Festival
Similarly, the Osun State government, on Saturday, announced that it has barred foreigners and non-residents from attending this year’s annu...
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Similarly, the Osun State government, on Saturday, announced that it has barred foreigners and non-residents from attending this year’s annual Osun Osogbo festival.
Reporters authoritatively gathered that development was aimed at checkmating potential spread of the deadly virus to the state.
Announcing the ban placed on foreigners and other categories of people who are not resident in Osun, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Sunday Akere, at a press conference, expressed the determination and readiness of the administration to safeguard the state from the menace of Ebola virus.
He maintained that the state took the “painful” decision in order to prevent some people who might have contracted the virus from spreading it to others who would also attend the festival.
While disclosing that the state government had taken some measures to ensure effective treatment of affected victims, in case of an outbreak of the virus in the state, Akere implored the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and other groups not to mobilise people to attend the festival.
“In our effort to make sure that the dreaded virus does not find its way into our midst, government has, at great pain, decided to restrict the influx of tourists into the state for this year’s Osun Osogbo International Festival.
“Government does not, in any way, intend to deprive the festival of its glamour or keep people away from being a part of the festivity. However, government has a duty to ensure the safety of lives and good health for the people, especially in situations of mortal threats such as the one posed by the deadly Ebola virus,” he said.
Lagos taking care of all cases –Fashola
Also, Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN, said at the weekend that the state government was taking adequate care of all patients who had tested positive to the virus, while also gradually developing capacity to manage the emergency situation.
He also called for caution in media publication of commentaries on efforts to contain the virus.
The governor spoke in an interview with journalists at the Lagos House, Ikeja.
Source: Tribune
Reporters authoritatively gathered that development was aimed at checkmating potential spread of the deadly virus to the state.
Announcing the ban placed on foreigners and other categories of people who are not resident in Osun, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Sunday Akere, at a press conference, expressed the determination and readiness of the administration to safeguard the state from the menace of Ebola virus.
He maintained that the state took the “painful” decision in order to prevent some people who might have contracted the virus from spreading it to others who would also attend the festival.
While disclosing that the state government had taken some measures to ensure effective treatment of affected victims, in case of an outbreak of the virus in the state, Akere implored the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and other groups not to mobilise people to attend the festival.
“In our effort to make sure that the dreaded virus does not find its way into our midst, government has, at great pain, decided to restrict the influx of tourists into the state for this year’s Osun Osogbo International Festival.
“Government does not, in any way, intend to deprive the festival of its glamour or keep people away from being a part of the festivity. However, government has a duty to ensure the safety of lives and good health for the people, especially in situations of mortal threats such as the one posed by the deadly Ebola virus,” he said.
Lagos taking care of all cases –Fashola
Also, Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN, said at the weekend that the state government was taking adequate care of all patients who had tested positive to the virus, while also gradually developing capacity to manage the emergency situation.
He also called for caution in media publication of commentaries on efforts to contain the virus.
The governor spoke in an interview with journalists at the Lagos House, Ikeja.
Source: Tribune
