COVID19 lockdown: A/Ibom constitutes mobile court during Lockdown

The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Godwin Abraham has constituted Mobile Court in Akwa Ibom to check the lingering during lockdown period announced by the state government in order to contain the spread of Covid19 otherwise known as Coronavirus.

In a press statement issued in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital on Friday, the Commissioner of Police and Chairman COVID 19 lockdown Enforcement implementation Committee in the state Imohimmi Edgal warned all residents in the state to cleave strictly to the lockdown order as anyone who breaks the Restriction law would be tried in the mobile court and face the consequence.

“The Chairman, Enforcement of the Quarantine and Restriction of Movement Regulations, 2020, CP Imohimi Edgal wishes to reaffirm to the general public that the Lockdown order is still in force”

The statement which was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state CSP N nudam Frederick said religious activities would be allowed only on the said dates and time after which the lockdown Implementation Committee would enforce the lockdown order

“However, the window provided by the State Government for religious activities to hold on Friday, April 10 and Sunday. April 12, 2020, between 6 am and 1 pm respectively must be observed strictly in line with the provisions of the Order. For purpose of emphasis, religious activities will be allowed only on the said date and time. “

“Thereafter, the enforcement committee comprising all security agencies would strictly enforce the Lockdown Order.”

Imohimmi explained that the Lockdown Implementation Committee would impound vehicles, arrest and prosecute offenders in line with lockdown and restriction of movement order by governor Udom Emmanuel in the state

“Consequently, the Enforcement Committee would impound vehicles, arrest and prosecute offenders accordingly. All vehicles impounded will only be released to the owners at the end of the lockdown order. “he said.

A report by Verakki Business Solutions has suggested that many businesses have been badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, even as shortages and a global supply chain bottleneck are posing fresh problems.

The report also noted that if the current lockdowns across most parts of the world persist for another two months, about N2.23 trillion worth of trade from Nigeria’s top 5 import countries would be lost. This could ultimately lead to domestic scarcity.

According to the report, four of Nigeria’s top trading partners and import sources (i.e., China, USA, Spain, and the Netherlands) are currently implementing lockdown measures. These countries account for 45% of Nigeria’s imports.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s access to raw materials, industrial components, and manufactured goods from these regions could become greatly hampered in the coming weeks. China, which used to be the epicentre of the pandemic, is still mostly under lockdown with limited economic activities. If this persists, the country may be unable to meet up with the demand for raw materials and other commodities from countries like Nigeria. And the attendant bottlenecks would give a significant dent to manufacturing operations, consumer goods, and retail operations in Nigeria.

The mentioned challenges, coupled with the issue of border closures, could also ultimately result in a spike in production costs across Africa. It would also take longer to restock raw materials, a situation that has been projected could cause panic buying, hoarding, and irregular price fluctuations. Companies would either be forced to cut production due to the lack of raw materials or offer their goods and services at high prices due to envisaged replacement costs.

In the meantime, Nigeria could be losing an estimated N2.27 trillion worth of exports due to closed borders.

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Recall that the Coronavirus pandemic had come with its social, economic and financial challenges which will ultimately lead to a global economic recession, according to experts. Recall that there have been many lockdowns and travel restrictions around the world, as countries try to contain the spread of the disease.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted that the global economy is expected to go into recession this year, just as the World Bank Group disclosed that Sub-Saharan Africa is about to witness its first recession in 25 years. In addition, Nigeria’s Minister for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, recently stated in an interview that the country would go into recession if the Coronavirus pandemic persists for the next 6 months.

The pandemic has also partly caused a slump in global oil prices, shutdowns of businesses, huge drops in revenue and foreign exchange earnings, increased deficit spending, and so many other negative impacts.