THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF RIVERS STATE BARR. NYESOM EZENWO WIKE - CON. PRESS CONFERENCE BROADCAST
17TH APRIL 2020
Let me welcome you all to this Press Conference primarily designed to update Rivers people and Nigerians on the activities of the Rivers State Government as it concerns the coronavirus pandemic. As a government, we chose a part of proactive interventions because we place high premium on the sanctity of human lives. Following the outbreak of coronavirus in our country, we did not wait to record an index case in our state before we began the enlightenment and sensitization of our people.
We were the first state in the Federation to close our borders. This attracted criticisms, but we have been vindicated as other states emulated this positive strategy.
Even though we have recorded two cases ,the index case has been discharged while the second case is doing well at the Treatment Centre. It is obvious that our containment strategies: closure of borders, closure of schools, closure of markets, closure of night clubs, closure of Cinemas, as well as the ban of public worship, ban of public burials and weddings have helped to check the spread of coronavirus.
This is in addition to the conduct of our healthcare professionals who have demonstrated a high level of patriotism and sacrifice in contact tracing and case management.
Security agencies saddled with the responsibility of the enforcement of government directives, have also contributed their quota to the present state of affairs.
To give legal framework to the containment strategies we embarked on and in compliance with Sections 2 and 8 of the Quarantine Act CAP Q2 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, I issued the Declaration of Dangerous Infectious Disease on 19th Day of March, 2020 declaring COVID-19 as a dangerous infectious disease.
Further to the said declaration and in accordance with Sections 2, 4 and 8 of the Quarantine Act, I issued the Quarantine (Coronavirus ( COVID-19) and other Infectious Diseases Regulations, 2020 on the 19th Day of March, 2020 which provide the legal framework for the actions required to be taken by Government in combating the spread of coronavirus in the State.
In exercise of the powers vested in me as the Governor of Rivers State by Regulation 11 of the COVID-19 Regulations, 2020, I issued Executive Order No. RVSG-01 dated 19th day of March, 2020 to give effect to the provisions of the COVID-19 Regulations, 2020.
By the Executive Order RVSG-01, 2020, I announced several decisions that had been taken to curb the spread of Coronavirus in the state which include but are not limited to closure of all public and private schools and other institutions of learning, closure of land and sea borders, ban on public burials, weddings, religious gatherings and other forms of public gatherings; closure of markets and suspension of in-bound and out-bound local flights at Port International Airport Omagwa and Port Harcourt Air Force Base.
On 7th April, 2020, two pilots of Carveton Helicopters flew in and landed at the Air Force Base Port Harcourt with 10 (ten) passengers on board their Twin-Otter Helicopter without any prior notice or approval from the State Government and in clear breach of the extant COVID-19 Regulations and Executive Order. The pilots and 10 passengers were promptly arrested by security personnel and arraigned before the Port Harcourt Chief Magistrate Court in two separate charges. Upon entry of their plea of not guilty, the trial Chief Magistrate ordered their remand pending the filing and hearing of their bail applications.
I am aware that the two pilots and ten passengers have been admitted to bail by the trial Chief Magistrate’s Court and have since been released.
It is important to mention that the arrest and arraignment of the two pilots and 10 passengers followed due process and were intended to ensure that all extant State Laws are obeyed by every person living or doing business in our State without any discrimination.
I wish to inform the good people of Rivers State that Carveton Helicopters Limited has apologised to the Government of Rivers State for her conduct and other well-meaning members of the society are also intervening on behalf of the company.
Yesterday, security agencies arrested 22 staff of Exxon Mobil who came into the state from neighbouring Akwa Ibom State in violation of the extant Executive Order restricting movement into the state. We do not know the coronavirus status of these individuals.
Even though security agencies advised that they be allowed to go back to Akwa Ibom State, I insisted that the law must take its course. This is because nobody is above the law. As a responsive government, we have quarantined them in line with the relevant health protocols and they will be charged to court.
I must commend the management of Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) for obeying the established health protocol to check the spread of coronavirus. They have consistently liaised with the State Government in the movement of their staff on essential duties. This is what is expected of a responsible corporate organization.
Our pragmatic leadership style has therefore earned our state individual and corporate support that have strengthened our prevention strategies.As it stands today, we have received the following medical and other infection, prevention and control equipment: •Three Isolation Tents located at Yakubu Gowon Stadium •Rapid Response Vans •Ambulances •One Nebulizer • Ventilators • Suction Machines •Two Oxygen Concentrators •Hospital Beds • Sprayers *Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) *Generators
As a responsive government that shares the pains of our people, we set up a COVID-19 Palliatives Committee to distribute foodstuffs to special groups such as Remand Home, Home for the Elderly, Home for the Physically Challenged, Motherless Babies and other less privileged persons. I directed the Palliatives Committee to ensure that their activities must not be partisan, religious or ethnic based.
Let me State here that following my directive, the committee adopted a community based approach in the discharge of its assignment.
The distribution of the foodstuffs is supervised at the ward level by a five-man committee made up of a clergy man, Traditional Ruler, Community Development Committee Chairman, Woman Leader and Youth Leader. To ensure that the target beneficiaries are reached, the Palliatives Committee assigns a supervisor to monitor distribution at the ward level.
So far, the Palliatives Committee has distributed foodstuffs to Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ikwerre and Eleme Local Government Areas.
The Committee has also distributed foodstuffs to Special Homes in Port Harcourt.
However, following complaints by some members of the public, government has decided to suspend the ongoing distribution of palliatives. In order to make the exercise more inclusive, members of the civil society, the media , additional military and paramilitary personnel are to be involved in the distribution network.
To ensure that nobody complains of hunger during this period, the Foodstuffs Purchasing Committee has set up Food Banks across the 23 Local Government Areas of the State. These Food Banks are to be supervised by Agricultural Desks in each Local Government Area.
So far, the Committee has purchased a large quantity of garri, yams, rice, palm oil and fish from local farmers and fishermen. The overall objective is to empower our farmers and fishermen while also providing enough foodstuffs for the less privileged in the State.
The State Security Council is looking into the Modus Operandi of commercial vehicle operators who have flagrantly refused to obey the social distancing directive as it relates to their activities.
Government may be forced to take drastic actions that might lead to banning their operations. But before we take this action, we shall provide a suitable alternative for our people.
Let me state clearly that it is imperative that all companies or organizations doing full or partial business in the state must support our efforts at containing coronavirus. Failure to support us shows total disregard for corporate social responsibility.
I want to sincerely thank all individual and corporate donors who have supported us in the fight against COVID-19. At the appropriate time, the Rivers State Government will publish their names in National Dailies and Local Tabloids for posterity. These individuals and corporate organizations are indeed friends of the State.
Let me assure all those living or doing business in Rivers State of our unwavering commitment to ensure that coronavirus does not spread in our State.
May I therefore urge all and sundry to rededicate themselves to the collective sacrifice to keep our State safe.
Thank you and God bless.
Comments
Post a Comment