Despite zero case, Benue Exco approves additional N100m to ‘fight’ COVID-19

By Jimin Geoffrey and Charles Iornumbe

The Benue State Government has released additional N100 million to the State Action Committee on COVID-19 to curb the pandemic in the state.

This was part of the decisions taken today at the expanded State Executive Council meeting, presided over by Governor Samuel Ortom which also had in attendance, members of the COVID-19 State Action Committee.

Briefing newsmen shortly after the meeting, Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Ngunan Addingi said out of the amount, N20,000,000 is to be used for completion of an additional isolation centre in Makurdi.

She stated that Council equally approved incentives for health personnel from the General Hospitals and announced plans for their training to guarantee expertise in handling Coronavirus cases.

According to the information Commissioner, the state has got a team willing to donate two hundred beds for the additional isolation centres and that the officials were being expected into the state within the week.

Mrs. Addingi said Council received reports about the influx of Cameronian refugees into Benue and resolved to reinforce security at the borders to guard against incidents of COVID-19 infected persons coming into the state.

The Information Commissioner acknowledged the donation of some food items by Stallion Group of companies as well as N1 million each donated by Benue Chamber of Commerce and MIKAP Nigeria Limited, in addition to the N100,000 to be contributed monthly by each member of Council to help the state win the war against the virus. She said the Committee had also received 250 hand sanitizers from Dakinda Taxis and N250,000 donated by Engr. Ahembe Bam.

Mrs. Addingi said the surveillance team was investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a young man who returned to the state from Ghana and died on his way to Abuja for medication, adding that Council had ordered for a postmortem to ascertain the cause of his death.

Also briefing newsmen, Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Sunday Ongbabo said in addition to the screening at the borders, thermometers would be provided to check body temperature.