NORTHERN GOVERNORS CONSOLE ADAMAWA GOVERNOR FINTIRI OVER DEATH OF MOTHER
The Northern Governors Forum has expressed deep condolences to Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, over the death of his mother, Hajiya Fatimah Umar Badami, who died at the age of 68. In a condolence message through its Chairman and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong, the Forum said it was devastated by the sad news of the departure of Hajiya Fatimah who was a great pillar to the Governor and members of his family. Governor Lalong said “we sincerely commiserate with our brother and colleague, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri and the entire people of Adamawa State over this huge loss, especially at this difficult time when the Governor is working hard to fight the Corona Virus Pandemic. We assure him of our support and prayers and urge members of the family and people of the State to accept her death as the will of God and continue to pray for the repose of her soul”. The Forum also encouraged Governor Fintiri to be comforted by the legacy of love, sacrifice and service that his mother demonstrated during her lifetime and the inspiration she gave to her immediate community as a devout Muslim. They also prayed God to grant her soul eternal rest.
Dr. Makut Simon Macham, ANIPR Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State & Chairman, Norther Governors Forum. 29th April 2020.
The Plateau state palliative committee has in addition to other supplies reached out to augment the breakfast needs of persons at the isolation center,NYSC orientation camp Mangu.
To this end they have sent in cartons of gala sausages,Coconut Chips,Water and Pepsi to further build up what is on the ground already.
According to the palliative committee secretary,Sumaye Hamza more supplies will reach the center if the number of persons there increases even while she prays it does not.
“This can take care of the breakfast need as well as refreshment for those here.We expect that these serves the purpose they are meant for as such any member of the committee can breeze into the isolation center at anytime to ensure the right things are done”
Receiving the items,an administrative officer with the center,Mwolchet Amos thanked the palliative committee for the visit and deliveries saying it will further improve their feeding capacity.
He said so far the persons at the center are being fed well and will continue to receive the required attention.
Earlier Chairman of the Plateau Youth Council,Fabong Jemchang lauded government for thinking in that direction saying most of those housed at the isolation center are youths who will have a lot to contribute to the society.
APC YOUTHS ONLINE FORUM CONGRATULATE ENGR SILAS VEM FOR HIS RE-APPOINTMENT AS DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR’S OFFICE,PROF.SONNI TYODEN.
The APC youth online forum want to heartily congratulate the RE-APPOINTMENT of Engr Silas Vem as the Chief Of Staff to the Deputy Governor of Plateau State.
This did not come to us as a surprise,as his untiring efforts and loyalty to the success of the Lalong administration from inception is a model for the youths to follow.
We want to also use this medium to appreciate Governor Simon Bako Lalong for rewarding loyalty accordingly and like Oliver twist ask that party faithfuls that have worked for the party be rewarded when the opportunity suffice.
We also want to use this opportunity to congratulate Plateau sons Prof. Garba Hamidu Sharubutu for the confirmation of his appointment as Executive Secretary Agricultural Research Council Of Nigeria , Hon.Steve Jings,board member Federal Character Commission and Jonah Madugu as Commissioner federal Character Commission representing Plateau, Nasarawa and Benue state by President Muhammadu.
We are indeed happy that our support for the APC is yielding fruits at the National level.
We want to enjoin all our members to join hands with Government in the fight against Covid19 by obeying all preventive measures highlighted by the authorities to curb it’s spread.
Think Plateau,Act Plateau!
Pius Tongmaan Dadaar Chairman Makut Alfred Mashat Secretary
The member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency and Chairman of the House Committee on Navy, Rt Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, on Sunday 26th April, 2020 distributed 3000 bags of 15kg rice and 800 bags of 100kg Maize/millet to members of his constituency in order to mitigate the hardship of the covid-19 pandemic that has crippled economic activities across the globe.
The sharing formula, as outlined by his PA, Barrister Adamu Nuhu, indicates that the palliatives are distributed to all the polling units in the constituency, where each polling unit across the three local government areas that made up the constituency got five bags of rice.
This, according to the PA, is to ensure that the palliatives go round, no matter how little. He added that beneficiaries of the palliatives excludes those who benefited from the empowerment program earlier organized by the lawmaker sometimes in February.
According to him, the motive is to ensure that the lawmaker’s gestures are not benefitted by the same set of people.
Meanwhile, Rt Hon. Gagdi revealed that the second phase of his palliative distribution is coming up soonest. He said he is giving out 500 bags of 15kg rice and financial assistance to widows, physically challenged and active social media activists across all political parties in the state.
Modalities for selecting the beneficiaries, according to the lawmaker, is by nomination which will be made by stakeholders and 24 of his personal aides.
Rt Hon. Gagdi said the brunt of the corona virus pandemic is felt by people across all social strata, hence the need to reach out to social media activities, who are always online trying to create awareness among the citizenry in order to contain the spread of the disease.
Date, time and venue for the distribution of palliatives to social media activists will be announced shortly.
ALL POLITICAL ACTIVITIES STILL ON HALT, RESPECT ORDERS, APC CAUTIONS PDP
Press release 27/04/2020.
The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Plateau State chapter, has been drawn to a planned violation of the Plateau State Government Executive Order on the fight against the novel Coronavirus, by a faction of the State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), to hold large political gathering in some few days to come.
We have it on good authority that the PDP, intends to bring together a lot of people to inaugurate a faction of its purported new wards executive committees, probably on Thursday, the 30 of April 2020. Such an action if and when it happens is a clear manifestation of the PDP’s recklessness and clear violation of the Executive Order, instituting total lockdown and banning all gatherings, including political activities.
It is instructive to stress that, such actio is not only an affront on the executive order, but a clear non chalannt attitude of the PDP, that is tantamount to disrespect to constituted authority and inimical towards the overall well being of our people.
Whereas, going by the unseen common enemy in place, the novel Coronavirus, and pursuant to the executive order, today all political parties seems to be silent as the world bows to “COVID-19 political party,” which we should in unison come together to fight to the latter. Unfortunately, the PDP is toying with this monster and playing bad games with the lives of the Plateau people.
If it were for just political reasons, we wouldn’t have cared to talk, but because we feel that our people need protection and must be protected, we therefore cannot fold our arms seeing unmindful people trying to abuse the well being of our people and by extension the might of governance.
The PDP or any other person or persons are hereby reminded and cautioned that the APC lead adminstration will not condone any act that will breach the safety and well being of its people.
At this juncture, we are urging the PDP to halt any planned political activity in the interest of the well being of the people, until the state is declared free of the common enimy of the novel Coronavirus.
In the event where they fail to heed this call, we further urge the relevant security agencies and apprehend all violators of Government directives.
Signed: Malam Bashir Musa Sati, State Secretary, 27/04/2020.
STATES, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS MUST ENSURE SEAMLESS MOVEMENT OF ESSENTIAL GOODS – PRESIDENCY
In the light of the presidential directive, during the nationwide broadcast last night, it is essential that attention be drawn to the reported large number of food trucks that are being delayed at various checkpoints around the country or prevented from crossing state borders, as a result of the various curfews and lockdowns in different states.
The restrictions of movement as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic do not apply to vehicles transporting essential commodities, such as food.
The country cannot afford a situation where agricultural products are being left to rot in trucks held at various checkpoints, when millions of Nigerians across the country need food. COVID-19 or no COVID-19, Nigerians need to eat.
Other essential items that can be transported despite the ban on movement as prescribed by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) include: pharmaceutical and sanitary supplies, personal care items, agro chemicals and agricultural machinery, electrical products and electronics, oil and gas, courier services, health supplies and protective garments.
Vehicles transporting essential items must not convey any commercial passengers. In addition, the occupants must not exceed three, i.e. the driver, spare driver, and conductor.
The drivers must have basic protective and sanitary items, including: face masks, hand sanitisers, and tissue paper to and from their destinations. Once these conditions are satisfied, they must be allowed to travel freely to and from any part of Nigeria.
Garba Shehu Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity) April 28, 2020
President Muhammadu Buhari will address the nation Monday, April 27, 2020 at 8pm.
Television, radio and other electronic media stations are enjoined to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) respectively for the broadcast.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state has extended the quarantine orders being enforced in the state for another 30 days, following the recommendation of the Standing Committee on COVID-19.
A statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr Muyiwa Adekeye, said that the extension order starts with effect from Sunday.
‘’With Covid-19 cases rising rapidly in neighbouring states and the FCT, and with strong evidence of interstate travel being a major means of spreading the virus, the Standing Committee’s evaluation is that measures to protect Kaduna State residents require further strengthening and more vigorous enforcement,’’ he said.
The Special Adviser further said that ‘’the two-day window during which the restriction of movement is relaxed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays has been reduced to only one day.
‘’Henceforth, only Wednesdays will be lockdown-free, until the trajectory of Covid-19 infections becomes clearer,’’ he added.
Adekeye also warned that ‘’all persons that venture out of their homes for whatever reason must wear facemasks and observe social distancing everywhere they go, in market sand in authorised vehicles.’’
‘’Government is making efforts to provide facemasks for poor and vulnerable residents, and it appeals to everyone that can afford it to get their tailors to make them cloth facemasks which they can wash after every use,’’ he added.
The statement said that ‘’wearing of facemasks will be robustly enforced as a critical public health measure to reduce person-person transmission.’’
The Special Adviser reiterated that all the measures announced on 26th March 2020, to contain Covid-19 remain in force and have been renewed.
According to him, the measures were imposed in exercise of the powers vested in the Governor by Section 45 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, (as amended), Sections 2 and 8 of the Quarantine Act 1926, now known as CAP Q2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and the Public Health Law of 1917.
Adekeye maintained that all residents of Kaduna State are quarantined and must stay at home, adding that ‘’no office, event centre, market, shop or business of any sort or place of worship is allowed to open.’’
‘’The only category of persons exempted are workers in essential services such as health workers, the fire service, water corporation, electricity distribution and security personnel. Tankers conveying fuel to petrol stations are also permitted to move,’’ he said.
The statement also exempted businesses in the food and pharmaceutical value-chain are exempted
The statement warned that the ‘’quarantine Orders prescribe fines, imprisonment and forfeiture for violations of the provisions specified therein.’’
‘’The Kaduna State Government has clearly stated that no visitor is welcome to enter the state while the Covid-19 pandemic is raging. Entry into or passage through Kaduna State is prohibited whilst the Quarantine Orders remain in force.’’ He added.
According to him, ‘’persons seeking to come into the state will be denied entry. Such persons will be given the option of returning to their take-off points or entering isolation for 14 days in locations and conditions that are so austere that nobody can mistake them for holiday resorts.’’
Adekeye further warned that ‘’the vehicles being used to enable such attempts to breach the quarantine conditions will be confiscated and forfeited to the government.
‘’ The companies operating those vehicles will also be prosecuted and shall lose their license to operate in the state, even after the Covid-19 pandemic is contained.
‘’Within the state, vehicles of whatever type that are determined to be in violation will be confiscated and forfeited to the government, while the persons driving them will be fined, and may be imprisoned upon conviction.
‘’ Motorcycle taxis and tricycles (popular known as Keke Napep) are prohibited in the state. Persons driving or riding in them shall be prosecuted while the vehicles shall be forfeited upon conviction.
‘’Mobile courts have been empowered by the Quarantine Orders to try violators and impose the prescribed penalties, including fines, imprisonment and forfeiture of vehicles, upon conviction.
MiddleBelt Reporters 