Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has extended the lockdown in the state by another 30 days to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The extension is coming exactly one month after the initial lockdown which began in the state on March 26.

El-Rufai’s media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, made the news of the extension known in a statement on Sunday, April 26.

According to the statement, El-Rufai’s decision followed the recommendation of the State Standing Committee on COVID-19 chaired by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe.

“All persons that venture out of their homes for whatever reason must wear facemasks and observe social distancing everywhere they go, in markets and in authorised vehicles.

“All residents of Kaduna State are quarantined and must stay at home. No office, event centre, market, shop or business of any sort or place of worship is allowed to open.

“The only category of persons exempted are workers in essential services such as health workers, the fire service, water corporation, electricity distribution and security personnel. Tankers conveying fuel to petrol stations are also permitted to move.

“Businesses in the food and pharmaceutical value-chain are exempted and shall enjoy the protection accorded to other essential services.

“Schools, places of worship, event centres, sports grounds, bars, restaurants, public parks and all other places where large crowds could gather are to remain closed until further notice,” the statement read.

The Kaduna state government also stressed that no visitor is welcome in the state during the pandemic as mobile courts have been empowered to try violators and impose the prescribed penalties, including fines, imprisonment and forfeiture of vehicles, upon conviction.