The Osun State government, on
Saturday, announced that it has barred foreigners and non-residents from
attending this year’s annual Osun Osogbo festival.
It was gathered that development was aimed at checkmating potential spread of the
deadly virus to the state.
Announcing the ban placed on
foreigners and other categories of people who are not resident in Osun, the
state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Sunday Akere, at a press conference,
expressed the determination and readiness of the administration to safeguard
the state from the menace of Ebola virus.
He maintained that the state took
the “painful” decision in order to prevent some people who might have
contracted the virus from spreading it to others who would also attend the
festival.
While disclosing that the state
government had taken some measures to ensure effective treatment of affected
victims, in case of an outbreak of the virus in the state, Akere implored the
Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), the National Union of Road Transport Workers
(NURTW) and other groups not to mobilise people to attend the festival.
“In our effort to make sure that
the dreaded virus does not find its way into our midst, government has, at
great pain, decided to restrict the influx of tourists into the state for this
year’s Osun Osogbo International Festival.
“Government does not, in any way,
intend to deprive the festival of its glamour or keep people away from being a
part of the festivity. However, government has a duty to ensure the safety of
lives and good health for the people, especially in situations of mortal
threats such as the one posed by the deadly Ebola virus,” he said.