Nasarawa State government has announced an extension of the two weeks lockdown on the Karu local government for a period of another ten days.

Governor Abdullahi A. Sule made the pronouncement in a press briefing held at the Government House in Lafia, Thursday.

The Governor also announced the extension of the partial lockdown in Lafia the state capital and other major city centres in the state.

In the case of Karu, there is a slight adjustment on the lockdown where there will be freedom of movement between the hours of 10am to 2pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays to allow the people get essential needs.

All workers in Karu are to work from home except for those rendering essential services as security agencies will be at hand to enforce the pronouncement of the government.

While in the major cities of the state, the people are to continue with the observance of the  8pm to 6am curfew for the next ten days all in a bid to curtail the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the state.

"During this period, markets, business premises, viewing centres, recreational facilities, schools are to remain closed as social gatherings such as weddings, naming ceremonies, burials are to be observed in line with the social distancing directives", Governor Sule maintained.

Governor further stressed that in consultation with religious and community leaders, the government is maintaining its stance on the banning of religious gatherings for the next ten days.

He stated that the state government has given some palliatives in form of rice to all the local governments in the state to cushion the hardship caused by the stay at home directive which is occasioned by the COVID-19 outbreak.

While fielding questions from journalists, Governor Sule said more palliatives assistance from both the federal and state governments will be dished out the people in no distance time adding that some areas in Karu who hitherto this situation were faced by insufficient water supply have now been provided water by the state government.

Speaking on the support so far received by state from spirited individuals and corporate bodies to fight the pandemic in the state, Nasarawa State COVID-19 Task Force Committee Chairman who doubles as the state Deputy Governor, Dr Emmanuel Akabe said so far the state has received about 76million naira donations.

Dr Akabe added that the said donation is still intact as the rice provided as palliative support was from the state government coffers.