President Muhammadu Issoufou of Niger; has Friday announced the
closure of borders, airports and schools among other preventative
measures against coronavirus.
Niger is also a border Country with Nigeria, Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso,
Algeria and Libya in North Africa.
Issoufou, in state-wide Radio and Television broadcast; declared that
the global planet; has faced a “terrible invisible, devastating
enemy,” the coronavirus or COVID-19.
His words: “In less than 3 months, it affects 151 countries, more than
75% of what the world counts. On our continent Africa, 27 countries,
or 50%, are affected by this pandemic against which even the most
powerful are powerless, disarmed.
“Their health systems, especially their resuscitation capacity, are overwhelmed.
“For the moment, there is no treatment or vaccine against this virus.
The only weapon that exists today is prevention.
“This is why; all the countries of the world take severe measures,
drastic measures, in particular of confinement of their citizens and
closing of their borders.
“Even places of worship are concerned, including the holiest of the
holy mosques, the Kaaba ‘. It’s a reality, it’s not science fiction.”
Continued: “Faced with this threat, the Government has already taken,
on March 13, 2020, important measures, in particular the cancellation
of the international meetings planned in Niamey, such as the
celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the OIF and the ministerial
conference of the OIC.
“Thank God, our country Niger is spared for the moment. But like the
others, we are not immune to contagion, because the world has become a
village.
“The weakness of the health systems of our countries imposes on us
much more than others, prevention.”
He said that to contain any further outbreaks, government is to take
other measures in containing the deadly virus in the country.
He said that the measures are in addition to the ones already taken
last week Friday, March 13, 2020.
According to him, the measures include closure of the International
Airports of Niamey and Zinder for a two weeks.
He noted that the closures be renewed from mid-March 19, 2020 at
midnight except for domestic, cargo, sanitary, and military flights.
He said that there should be consultation between government and
religious leaders to decide on measures to be adopted at places of
worship.
On closure of schools, Issoufou said: “All preschool, elementary,
secondary and higher education establishments are to be closed for two
weeks; and review from March 20, 2020 at midnight.
“I therefore; urged parents to be responsible for the care of their
children and wards.
“Bars, nightclubs, cinemas and places of entertainment are hereby
closed from Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at midnight,” adding that
gathering of over 50 people, is also banned.
According to him, the congressional ban, include baptisms, marriages
and any other forms of ceremony across the country.
He said that workshops and seminars are also prohibited until further notice.
The President also ordered the establishment of compulsory hygiene
measures in markets, shops, restaurants, public and private services;
Speaking on preventative measures, he said: “There should be respect
for a distance of at least a meter between people in supermarkets,
restaurants, businesses, airport areas and public places,” stressing
that there should be free diagnosis and treatment of any confirmed
cases.
While reviewing announced measures, he said: “The emergency plans, are
to take into account the new requirements and other measures that will
gulp a billion CFA francs from the national budget.
