COVID-19: Akinlade raises alarm over Ogun porous borders, advises Gov Abiodun

The governorship candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Hon. Adekunle Akinlade in the 2019 election in Ogun State has raised the alarm over the porous nature of the international borders in Ogun, describing them as potential windows to the importation and spread of coronavirus pandemic within local communities.

DAILY POST reports that Ogun, also known as the Gateway State, shares many borders with Benin Republic, having countless illegal routes across four local governments in Yewa.

Last week, some Togo returnees were accosted at the Imeko-Afon border, with three of them testing positive for Coronavirus.

In a statement made available to DAILY POST on Monday, Akinlade expressed concerns that the porousity of borders in Ogun is a bigger danger that is being ignored or overlooked by the state government.

Like the other 101 Local Governments in 21 States bordering the nation, Akinlade stated that Ipokia, Imeko-Afon, Yewa South and Yewa North Local Government areas of Ogun State deserve to be well secured to forestall community transmission of the deadly virus.

He said Nigerians in other neighbouring countries are now returning home in droves through those unmanned routes, because of the global economic meltdown, occasioned by COVID-19.

Akinlade, who is now a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), hinted that many of the returnees may be carriers of the disease, “thus exposing local communities to the virus through community infections.”

While saying it may not be possible to stop them from returning to Nigeria, the former lawmaker, Akinlade tells Governor Dapo Abiodun to engage in a well-structured indigenous public awareness campaign.

With this, he believes the state government will be able to get the returnees to voluntarily submit themselves for screening and test.

He also advised Abiodun to domesticate the entire care process by setting up isolation centres in each of the four Local Governments to encourage trust, adding that the approach will enhance efforts made so far and reduce a possible second wave of the pandemic in the nation.

The statement reads in full:

“I wish to use this opportunity to thank health workers nationwide; scientists, government officials, security agents and philanthropists who are daily expending their knowledge, expertise and resources in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.

“It is my sincere hope that this notification will be given the deserved attention by those saddled with the responsibility to act.

“I will like to draw our attention to a possible danger that is being ignored or overlooked. Like the other 101 Local Governments in 21 States bordering the nation, Ipokia, Imeko-Afon, Yewa South and Yewa North Local Government areas of Ogun State are potential windows to the ‘importation’ and spread of Covid-19 in the country. This is because of the porous nature of our borders.

“It is a known fact that majority of Nigerians from border communities live and trade in neighbouring countries like Benin Republic, Niger among others. They cross between those states with ease thus with the global economic meltdown, occasioned by COVID-19, many Nigerians are returning home in their hundreds through those unmanned routes.

“With the uncontrollable rate at which COVID-19 is spreading, many of those returnees may be infected, thus exposing local communities to the virus through community infections. The challenge is that we cannot stop them from returning home.

“However, with a well-structured indigenous public awareness campaign, we may be able to get those returning to voluntarily submit themselves for screening and test.

“This can further be done by domesticating the entire care process and setting up isolation centres in each of those Local Governments to encourage trust.

“It is important that we deploy considerable resources to manage this window because governments, both at state and national levels are struggling to cope as it is.

“This approach will not only enhance efforts made so far, but it will also reduce a possible second wave of the pandemic in the nation.”

Court orders Okowa government to account for over N200bn education funds, allocations

Court orders Okowa government to account for over N200bn education funds, allocations The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, in a landmark judgment, has “ordered the disclosure of the spending details of over N200bn public funds collected by the government of former Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa from the Universal Basic Education Commission [UBEC] fund and allocations from the Federation Accounts.” The court ordered the Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to “disclose details of budgetary allocations and actual spending by the Okowa government between 2015 and 2019, including specific projects carried out to improve primary education in Delta State, and the locations of such projects.” The judgment was delivered by Honourable Justice Daniel Osiagor, following a Freedom of Information suit number: FHC/L/CS/803/2019, brought by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). In his judgment, Justice Osiagor held that, “SERAP has cognizable legal right to inquire and

Olu Of Warri Defends Tradition, Speaks on Christianity

Olu Of Warri Defends Tradition, Speaks on Christianity The Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ògíamẹ̀ Atúwàtse III, has dispelled the insinuation that there is a conflict between the traditional thrones and Christendom. The monarch, who stated this when he received the Soun of Ogbomoso land, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III, in his Palace in Warri Kingdom, Delta State, said that the two institutions were not necessarily antithetical. He also debunked the assumption that traditional institutions were synonymous with fetishism and the worship of creations made by human beings and reasoning. He, however, noted that the two institutions can play complementary role that will contribute to the growth and development of the country. The Olu, who said he was elated by the Soun’s visit, said the new Ogbomoso monarch’s choice of Warri kingdom as his first place of visit was divinely directed, just as his choice for the throne was divinely ordained. He said that they owe i

Many Benefited as Tantita Save Niger Delta From Enviromental Ruins

Many Benefited as Tantita Save Niger Delta From Enviromental Ruins It is on record over the past twenty years in the Niger Delta region, South-South Nigeria where incessant fire disaster and untimely death was on the increase in weekly basis as result of the activities of illegal oil bunkering, especially the process of local refining popularly known as Kpo-Fire. The menace also renders our young married ladies widows in the ljaw riverine communities because most of their life partners venture into the Kpo-Fire business due to its lucrative nature in making quick money. To proof your doubt, take a tour to any of the ljaw riverine communities across Burutu, Warri South-West, Bomadi, Patani in Delta State, and Southern ljaw, Ekeremor, Nembe and Brass LGAs in Bayelsa State, you will discovered that most of our youths are facially disfigured in parts of their body as result of severe fire accident incurred during cooking and burning (refining) of crude oil to kerosene, fuel and desiel for

FocalPoint Reports

Search This Blog