KGSG inaugurates Squadron committee to tackle Covid-19, Lassa Fever »

Kogi State Government has on Monday inaugurated a squadron committee which would be dedicated to tackling the pandemic, Covid-19 virus and also Lassa Fever in the State.

The Committee which is chaired by the Deputy Governor of the State, Chief Edward Onoja has as it secretary the State commissioner for health, Dr. Saka Haruna.

Other members of the Squadron committee included the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Secretary To Kogi State Government, Commissioners for Education, Transportation, Environment, Information and Communication, Finance , Budget and Economic Planning, Local Government And Chieftaincy Affairs.

The Committee also comprised of Representative of State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), State Epidemiologist, State Security Adviser, Health Development Partners’ Forum (to be represented by WHO) as well as representatives of NUJ, NMA, Medical And Health Workers Union Of Nigera, NURTW, State Traditional Council, CAN, Council of Ulemas.

Others were representatives of National Youth Council of Nigeria, Kogi Chapter, Civil Society Organisation of Nigeria, Kogi Chapter, A Veterinary Doctor: Dr Sanni Abdullahi Ozomata and a Microbiologist: Mr Haruna Audu Jimoh.

The Governor charged the Committee to urgently swing into action and take the necessary measure to safeguard the state from any occurrence and similarly prepare for any unforeseen incident.

Speaking with the press after the committee’s first meeting Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo noted that the committee had designated Fareek clinic as the temporary isolation center in the case of any event.
He noted also the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) was also in deliberation with its National Agency on how to upgrade the state’s laboratories to provide for test kits for suspected cases within the state.

Hon. Fanwo noted that Kogi State being the gateway to many neighbouring states within the country would also look into how vehicles move within its region as vehicles in transit from other states onward would not be allowed to stay unless if they wanted to drop passengers.

He charged the people to stay at home reiterating that the government would also seek means of enforcing the social gathering directives.
The Commissioner emphasized that gatherings have been completely banned and other business areas should ensure strict adherence to safety measures which he noted would go a long way to prevent the state from recording any occurrence.

He said the Committee was looking at the idea of banning Okada movement for the main time as a way to curb movement and was also reviewing its earlier directive on religious gathering.

He stated that Kogi has not recorded any case on Civic-19 and it was very important to clamp down of the dissemination of fake news which could increase panic among the people.

Hon. Fanwo affirmed that the enlightenment sub-Committee would seek out measures to curb incessant fake news as it would continue to daily brief the press so as to allow the people know the true situation of events.
He noted that apart from engaging the Mass media, volunteers would also take part in spreading enlightenments even to people in the rural areas of the state.