NCDC lauds Ortom over coronavirus fight

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has commended governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State for taking proactive steps in fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

 The agency said it was the proactive approach of Governor Samuel Ortom and his team that has been instrumental to the success so far recorded in the fight against the spread of coronavirus in the state.

NCDC representative, Professor Stephen Abba stated this Wednesday when he presented a report on COVID-19 to Governor Ortom and the State Action Committee at Benue Peoples House, Makurdi.

He said:  “the quick response to suspected cases, contact tracking and massive awareness among other measures employed by the Benue State Government have played a key role in limiting the number to only the index case.”

Professor Abba made numerous recommendations on ways of sustaining the fight against the pandemic one of which he said, “was intensified security at the borders of Benue, to prevent people from coming into the state during the lockdown.” 

Reacting, Chairman, State Action Committee on COVID-19, Engineer Benson Abounu disclosed that they had received three trucks of rice from the Federal Government for distribution across the three Senatorial Zones of the state.

Engineer Abounu noted that the committee has also procured a truck load of tomato paste and is producing about 150,000 face masks among other items for the people.

 He said with the transfer of the COVID-19 index case in Benue to Abuja, the state has no fresh case of coronavirus. 

The Deputy Governor also hinted that plans had been concluded to convey to their various states, the 40 youths who were suspected to have been trafficked to Benue and kept in one apartment on Adikpo Street in Makurdi.

Responding, Governor Ortom commended the State Action Committee for a job very well done and announced the approval of additional N50 million to enable the committee do more.

The Governor restated the commitment of his administration to the battle against the virus, urging the people to continue to observe preventive measures against the pandemic. 
He described unity, love, peace and sustained prayers as the panacea for overcoming COVID-19 and promised that the report presented by NCDC would be implemented, thanking the organization for its immense support.

On crises in some communities of the state, Governor Ortom said it was shameful that at a time when the entire world is united to fight a common enemy COVID-19, some persons were busy sponsoring violence in their areas.

He said security operatives have been directed to arrest and prosecute such individuals.