Ado: James Oche declares strict enforcement of COVID-19 health precautionary measures from 6am on Sunday, July 5

PRESS STATEMENT

Ado Local Government Chairman, Hon. James Oche has, in the wake of the health concern occasioned by the growing number of covid 19 cases in Benue State issued directives to safeguard the welfare of the people of Ado Local Government.

In a statement personally signed by the Chairman yesterday after an inaugural meeting with the LG Covid 19 Committee headed by himself, Mr Oche empowered the LG Task Force Team on Covid 19 headed by the DPO, DSP Bulama Usman to strictly enforce the directives which he said will be in force from 6am on Sunday, 5th July, 2020 until further reviewed.

The directives are to the effect that:

1. All persons shall at all times use nose masks in public places. This is applicable to commercial and non commercial cyclists and motorists as well as their passengers. Flouting this directive will be visited with the impounding of such vehicles.

2. All entry points shall be stationed and failure to ensure full compliance with the use of facemasks and social distancing in conveying passengers shall be visited with a refusal of entry. For motorcycles, 1 passenger and for cars, 1 in front and not more than three behind. This applies to both private and commercial vehicles.

3. All dead bodies suspected to be covid 19 victims coming from outside the Local Government must get clearance from the State Task Force Team on Covid 19 to be allowed entry or passage through Ado.

4. Sequel to paragraph 3 above, all privately owned mortuaries are by this release urged to dispose off the bodies in them within 1 week and close up pending when we shall give clearance for reopening. At the moment, only the government owned mortuary of the General Hospital, Igumale is allowed to operate.

5. All gatherings; social, religious or otherwise shall not have more than 50 persons in attendance and they shall adhere strictly to social distancing and the use of face mask. Religious and community leaders are hereby enjoined to enlighten their congregation and people respectively about these prescriptions.

6. All Local Government Staff must adhere to social distancing, use of nose masks and hand sanitizers and no meeting of more than 6 persons shall be held in the chairman’s office or any other private offices. Any meeting exceeding 6 persons shall be held in the council hall with observance of social distancing. Visitors to the Secretariat will be denied entry if without face masks.

7. All traditional leaders within the Local Government must apply these guidelines in meetings within their domains and palaces or face temporary shutdown of their palaces. They are enjoined to also sensitize the people appropriately on the dangers of Covid 19 and the need to adhere to these directives.

8. Shops and Stall owners must have hand sanitizers and also use nose masks. Failure to which such shops or stalls will be locked up by the Task Force Team.

Hon James Oche further promised that, there will be supply of Private Protective Equipment (PPE) for the enforcement team as well as additional supply of nose masks and hand sanitizers for those who cannot afford and shall have same distributed with preference to the elderly.

He finally regretted the inconveniences the directives would cause the people and enjoined them to endure for their safety and welfare.