Coronavirus Pandemic
By Anayo Ezugwu
THE South East Governors Forum has directed that all Igbos living outside Igboland to obey all extant Coronavirus (COVID-19) orders. The forum called on the people to obey the presidential directive on inter-State movement; World Health Organisation, WHO; Nigeria Centre of Disease and Control, NCDC, hygiene protocols; Presidential Task Force and directives of South East Governors and the directives of all governors where they live.
Speaking at the end of its meeting in Enugu on Sunday, May 24, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State and chairman of the forum, said that they agreed to further engage the NCDC to scale up testing of coronavirus in the region. On issues of security, the forum expressed dismay that the Inspector General of Police allegedly reneged on its agreements on practice and composition for the establishment of community policing in the zone.
“On community policing, the recent communication from the Inspector General of Police to our Governors on Community Policing composition is not in keeping with the agreement we reached with him during his last visit to the South East. In the circumstance, we cannot begin implementation of it until the programme reflects our earlier agreement.
“The South East Governors and their leaders request the IGP to revert to our initial agreement reached on Community Policing at Enugu. The forum agreed that all South East States Houses of Assembly should commence the process of enacting of State Security laws in line with the South East Joint Security programme,” he said.
According to Umahi, the forum has agreed to set up committees in its various states to work with the federal government, World Bank and Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, in their various programmes lined up to rejig the economy. He noted that the main focus of the region is in the areas of agriculture, SME and solid minerals. “Meeting agreed to hold a virtual meeting with the Group MD of the NNPC on the issue of linking our South East State capitals with gas pipeline alongside with the pipeline programme of the Federal Government of Nigeria, which is running from Imo State to Lagos State.
“Meeting agreed that Ohaneze do submit a working document in our next meeting on setting up of South East Stabilization Fund. Chris Okoye, the Chairman, South East Governors Committee on Akanu Ibiam International Airport Rehabilitation briefed the Forum on progress of work on the Airport. We commend Mr. President, Minister of Aviation, the Governor of Enugu State, other Governors of the South East and the Committee headed by Chris Okoye in this respect.
“We assure our people that with the progress of work, we are hopeful that the Airport will re-open soonest, subject to COVID-19 Federal Government Programme. On the second Niger Bridge, we again commend Mr. President, the Minister of Works and the Governor of Anambra State. We are happy with the progress of work by Julius Berger,” he said.
– May 25, 2020 @ 12:55 GMT |
Tags: COVID-19: South East Governors’ Forum urges Igbos to obey directives
