The Abia State Government Tuesday announced the extension of the lockdown by Seven Days effective from Wednesday, April 8, 2020, even as it commenced distribution of cash and food items to Abians.

In a statement signed by the Secretary to the Government of Abia State, Barrister Chris Ezem, the government said the “extension is necessary to confirm that we are indeed free of the virus. This is because the normal incubation period for the virus is 14 days”.

“Government is aware of the hardship and inconvenience this situation has brought upon our people. But it is better to live with temporary inconvenience than to expose ourselves to this disease in search of comfort.

“Within this period, Government will continue to distribute some food items, sanitizers and face masks which commenced officially today”, the statement said and directed enforcement teams at all levels of governance in the state to remain vigilant.

Meanwhile, the Abia State government Wednesday commenced the distribution of food items and cash to vulnerable people in the State to cushion the effect of the lockdown imposed by the government due to the coronavirus pandemic.

As at date, over 8000 bags of rice are available for distribution, as well as millions of naira, PPEs and other food items, through selected churches, mosques, and other groups.

The Governor, who spoke through his Deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, said the exercise will be continuous until all vulnerable people in the State are reached, adding that those who do not belong to any denomination will be reached through Presidents of town unions and traditional rulers.

The churches that took delivery of the items for the first day include; Catholic and Methodist Churches which received 300 bags of rice, 10 bags of beans, 300 tubers of yam, 300 hand sanitizers, 5,000 face masks and N6m each to buy more items and essentials.

Responding on behalf of the churches, the Abia State chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Apostle Emmanuel Agomuo thanked the Governor for the gesture and pleaded with the church leaders to ensure that the materials get to the less privileged as it is not meant for elders of the church.