COVID-19 lockdown, Gov Diri relaxes restrictions to allow food, drugs laden vehicles into Bayelsa

Gov. Douye Diri on Tuesday relaxed the interstate border closure ordered the check the spread of the corona virus to allow food, drugs and vehicles conveying personnel on essential duty into Bayelsa

Diri granted unfettered passage to their destinations for vehicles conveying foodstuff, medical supplies and personnel on essential services as the country grapples with containing the COVID-91 pandemic.

Diri stated this during an enlarged meeting with members of the state's COVID-19 taskforce, including service commanders, labour leaders and representatives of international health organisations in Government House,  Yenagoa. 

COVID 19: Water producers in Bayelsa lament, As Govt mulls market shutdown.

Business operators engaged in producing essential goods like water in Bayelsa on Tuesday said that they were grappling with additional costs imposed by restrictions over the corona virus pandemic.

Some operators who spoke with journalists in Yenagoa said that the restrictions placed by the government as part of its efforts on curbing the spread of the virus had imposed additional costs on their operations.

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The reaction is coming on the heels of public outcry on the increase in prices of essential goods like water, food items and other essentials.

Rainstorm wrecks havoc in Yenagoa, destroys broadcast masts of many stations

A late night rainstorm on Monday night destroyed property and buildings worth millions of naira in Yenagoa, Bayelsa capital.

Worst hit by the storm includes broadcast masts of many radio and television stations including the state owned broadcasting corporation, Radio Bayelsa christened Glory FM.

No life was lost in the incident.

The rainstorm brought down the mast of the station which also hosts the transmitters of Radio Nigeria’s Creek FM and the Nigeria Television Authority and subsequently brought the stations off-air.

New Petrol Pump-price: Ijaw Youths Council shuts 7 petrol stations in Bayelsa as DPR kicks

The Central Zone of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has locked down seven petrol filling stations in Yenagoa for allegedly not adjusting to the N125 pump-price.

The youth visited many filling stations in Yenagoa and locked down the affected stations.

The Federal Government had reduced the pump price from N145 to N125 per litre to reflect the fall in crude oil prices.

The youth applauded four fuel dealers who had reviewed their prices downwards to reflect the new petrol price.

Mr Kenedy Olorogun, Chairman of IYC, Central Zone, explained that their action was informed by the attitude of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

COVID-19 Lockdown: Food shortage hits Bayelsa as prices soar

Restrictions of movements over the coronavirus pandemic has led to shortage of staple foods and rising prices in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa capital.

The affected items include, sachet water which the residents depend on due to absence of potable water, grains and food condiments amongst others.

A market survey at rural and urban markets in Bayelsa at the weekend showed over 100 per cent increase in the prices of Garri, Yam, Tomatoes and other food items following measures put in place to check the spread of COVID-19.

Checks at Okordia-Zarama, a rural market and Swali market in the urban area of the state capital showed that a four-litre plastic container measure of garri which sold for N600 few days before the restrictions, now sells for N1,500.

For sachet water packaged in bags of 20 pieces which sold for N100, same now goes for N150 as dealers said the lockdown had held down supplies from neighbouring states.

The Central Zonce of  Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has commenced the enforcement of the new N125 pump price of petrol in Yenagoa, Bayelsa capital.

The youths visited many filling stations in Yenagoa closing down seven of them for dispensing petrol above the federal government approved pump price of N125 per litre.

COVID-19: Bayelsa NSCDC sets up 250-man response team

The Bayelsa Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), says it has set up a 250-member response team to enforce guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Bayelsa Commandant of the NSCDC, Mrs Christiana Abiakam-Omanu, announced this in Yenagoa on Thursday, while giving an update on the command’s activities in the fight against coronavirus.

Abiakam-Omanu said that the command set up the team in line with the Crisis and Disaster Management mandate of the NSCDC.