One basic thing we must know, as the state government shuts Abia from interstate commuting.
Abia is one of the few states in Nigeria sharing common borders with seven others. The states are Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Rivers and by extension, Bayelsa
This means that Abia State is a strategic transportation hub within the federation; with high human traffic, movement of commercial goods and services forming part of the major economic activities for the people of the state.
Therefore, the state government cannot gratify to shut down its economy (IGR Base), except for life-threatening emergency reasons which the coronavirus pandemic has proven to become, albeit globally.

So, what Abia State Government has initiated is in line with what the Federal government is doing on the lager Nigerian space, to avert the rapid spread of Corona Virus from registering an absolute catastrophic experience on Nigerians.

With 2 deaths, over 174 confirmed cases and still counting.., it cannot be overemphasized that the CoronaVirus pandemic is a lethal threat to humanity, our collective security and to the general safety of Abians hence, the need to lockdown.
Today, three of our neighbors vis; Enugu has 2 cases. Rivers has 1 while Akwa Ibom has registered 5 cases in one day.
This means that Abia State has possibly been facilitating the commuting and transiting of people with this infectious virus.

In the light of the aforementioned, the State Government led by Victor Okezie Ikpeazu Ph.D has, via on April 1 statewide broadcast, directed all security agencies in the state, traditional institutions, organized community youth groups and the people of Abia to ensure that there'll be no movement of unauthorized vehicles and persons into the state till further notice is given.

On Sunday the 29th day of March, President Buhari, issued a similar proclamation directed at Lagos, Ogun and the FCT. This is the way to go for now, till a majority of the Convid-19 carriers are fully tracked and isolated for treatment.

Therefore, the Abia State Ministry of Homeland Security, through its community policing and vigilante networks should activate and stratify to further strengthen local intelligence gathering within the homeland and cooperate with all security agencies in the state to ensure total compliance with this directive. The communities bordering Akwa Ibom, Enugu and Rivers must be locked down without compromise.

The State Government will monitor this development and periodically compare notes to inform further actions where and when it becomes expedient, in the interest of the people.

Please let's be guided by our safety instincts and report any suspicious health, security and safety perils around us.

God Bless Abia State.

Chigozie Onyeukwu Ubani (fisn).
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, on Homeland Security