GOVERNOR LALONG EULOGISES FORMER MINISTER OF JUSTICE/ATTORNEY GENERAL, CHIEF RICHARD AKINJIDE
Plateau State Governor and Chairman of the Northern States Governor’s Forum Simon Bako Lalong has condoled with family of former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Richard Osuolale Akinjide. Governor Lalong in a condolence message described the legal icon as a man who made remarkable impact on the country and affected its polity positively particularly as Minister of Education in the First Republic, Minister of Justice and Attorney General in the Second Republic, as well as a member of the 1975-77 Constitutional Drafting Committee among other responsibilities he carried out. Lalong said “as a senior member of the Bar, Chief Richard Akinjide set standards and conducted his Affairs with the highest sense of decorum, patriotism, hardwork and honesty such that he was an inspiration for many within and outside the legal profession. He remains a shining example even in death”. The Governor said although the death of the legal luminary is a painful loss, the legacies he left behind and the testimonies of many people he mentored and impacted will remain fresh and propel others to follow his footsteps. The Plateau State Governor also used the opportunity to on behalf of Northern Governors Forum condole with the Government and people of Oyo State, the Bar and Bench, as well as the Court of the Olubadan of Ibadan. Lalong prayed that God Almighty will grant his soul eternal rest, and comfort his family.
Dr. Makut Simon Macham, ANIPR Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State April 22, 2020.
GOVERNOR BALA MOHAMMED PRESIDES OVER TODAY’S S.E.C MEETING
His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala A. Mohammed, Kauran Bauchi today presided over the State Executive Council Meeting.
In line with protocols on measures against infection or spread of coronovirus, social distancing was fully observed and maintained at the meeting.
Lawal Muazu Bauchi Special Assistant ( New Media) to the Governor 22/04/2020
Kano State Government in its quest to fight Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has requested a support of N15b from the Federal Government. The application was revealed by Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Wednesday on a Channels Television program, Politics Today. The governor maintained that federal government has not yet support his state with a dime to fight the deadly virus. According to him, the N15bn would be use in paying the voluntary health personnel who’re employed by the state to support health workers, to provide personal protective equipment and also to establish other testing centers. The governor said, ‘’You can understand that Kano is the most populated in the country hence the only testing centre at AKTH is not enough for us, ‘’
Governors of the 36 States of the federation on Wednesday “unanimously” agreed to the implementation of an inter-State lockdown in the country over the next two weeks to mitigate the spread of the pandemic COVID-19 virus from State to State.
The governors, operating under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), reached the agreement after receiving briefing from the Governors of Lagos, Bauchi, Oyo and Ogun States who shared their experiences and lessons from the fight against COVID-19.
A communiqe issued by the NGF chairman and governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, at the end of the sixth COVID-19 teleconference meeting said only essential services would be permitted.
State governors called for the decentralization of the COVID-19 response as the best chance of nipping the spread of the virus in communities with over 25 States now affected by the spread of the virus and increasing evidence of community transmission.
Members of the NGF also voiced serious concern over the rising spread of the virus among health workers and resolved to work with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to ensure that health workers are “adequately” provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) and are “constantly” trained on the use of protective gears.
This followed an update from the NGF Secretariat on the number of COVID-19 cases in the country.
Governors also resolved to set up COVID-19 committees at the regional level, headed by their State Commissioners of Health in order to strengthen coordinated implementation of necessary public health recommendations across States.
Regional committees, the communique added, will continue to interface with the State Task Force Committees on COVID-19 already established in each State.
The NGF Chairman briefed the forum on the rapidly evolving situation of the COVID-19 pandemic and coordination efforts with the federal government, multilateral and bilateral partners, and the private sector through the Coalition against COVID-19 (CACOVID).
The forum held a minute’s silence in honour of all Nigerians who had lost their lives from coronavirus, especially health workers who were in the front lines of the epidemic.
The NGF also congratulated the governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, who after nearly four weeks of testing positive and observing very strict medical regime, has now received two consecutive negative test results for the coronavirus.
Members also conveyed their condolence to President Muhammadu Buhari and the people of Borno State on the passing of the Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari, who passed away on April 17, 2020 in the line of duty to the country.
It would be recalled that President Buhari currently imposed lockdown in only the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and Ogun States to halt the spread of the novel pandemic coronavirus. Some of the States have taken similar measures to fight the deadly virus but there is no nationwide lockdown from the federal government.
Health experts say the country may be heading towards the need for nationwide lockdown to stop the virus.
However, the National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Dr. Sani Aliyu, had earlier in the day denied proposing a national lockdown to tackle COVID-19 in the country. Aliyu made the claim on Wednesday in Abuja, at the 17th joint national briefing of the PTF on COVID-19. That came after the Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Chikwe Ihekweazu hinted on Monday that President Buhari will make some very difficult decisions next week about the lockdown occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic. He said this in Katsina when he visited Governor Aminu Masari to see the state’s preparedness for COVID 19. The audio of the discussion by the duo was obtained by our correspondent. Ihekweazu disclosed that the president was scheduled to join the governors’ forum teleconference meeting to discuss some of the decisions. As at Tuesday 21 April, 2020, the official cases in the country stand at 782
GOVERNOR LALONG DIRECTS ECONOMIC ADVISORY COUNCIL TO EVOLVE POST-COVID ECONOMIC BLUEPRINT
Owing to the serious impact of the Corona Virus pandemic on the global economy as well as its effect on Nigerian economy and by extension the Plateau State economy, Plateau State Governor, Simon Bako Lalong has directed the State Economic Advisory Council headed by Chief Ezekiel Gomos, to immediately brainstorm and come up with practical and comprehensive strategies on the sustainability and continuation of the State Economy under COVID-19. To ensure that Plateau State adapts to this new economic reality, the Governor has equally directed the Council to put together a post-COVID road map for the Plateau State economy especially for its revival and recovery. To achieve this task, the Governor has mandated the Council to liaise and consult extensively with all Ministries, Department and Agencies; Local Government Councils; key private sector players in the State in the manufacturing, agriculture, banking and finance; hospitality and entertainment; trade and commerce; ICT; mining sector; and other important stakeholders like the MSMEs; the informal sector; Trade Associations; Chambers of Commerce; development partners NGOS and CSOs, Labour Unions etc. The Council is expected to submit periodic policy and strategic recommendations to the Governor on the State economy under COVID19 and beyond.
Dr. Makut Simon Macham, ANIPR Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State and Chairman, Northern Governors Forum 22nd April 2020.
Rep. Dachung Musa Bagos, Member representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency in the Nigerian National Assembly Abuja, has distributed food items to some Plateau State indigenes resident in APO DISTRICT of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Hon. Bagos who was ably represented by his Abuja Liaison Officer and former staff of the British Council, Rwas Julius Dung Turu stated Rep. Bagos was moved by the accentuation of the World Health Organization (WHO), that ‘’Hunger will be another crisis to deal with in Africa during the COVID-19 lockdown”.
Therefore, it was necessary to consider the disadvantaged class of people, who depend on daily patronage to make a living, especially since the advent of this COVID-19. They are now stranded and starving because all their clients and customers are locked down at home for safety.
The anchor of METRO ANGELS HUMANITARIAN RADIO SHOW, on HOT FM 98.3 Abuja, Mr. Victor Chollom who was present at the presentation of the food items said “beyond being a great act of kindness to Plateau State indigenes, this is the first time any Abuja based-Plateau State elected member has considered this category of artisans (Mechanics), who are grossly affected by the COVID-19 lock down.
Elizabeth Iliya, expressed gratitude and showered prayers for the honorable member. She added “God has given us a son in Dachung Bagos and today, the son was sent us timely intervention May God bless him for his benevolence, she spoke on behalf of the widows who were part of the beneficiaries.
Furthermore, the Berom Youth leader in Kabusa, Mr. David Dung stated that, his prayer this morning was for God to just provide for his small family any means of feeding for that day, and behold the palliatives from the Honorable Member is beyond just a day, it will cover for another two weeks.
COVID-19: Rep. Bagos Urges NCDC to give Attention to the North, Calls for More Testing Centres
With 782 total cases and 25 deaths recorded nationally of the Coronavirus, the Member representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency Plateau State, Rep. Dachung Musa Bagos has called on the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to give attention to Northern Nigeria to forestall what could lead to monumental deaths.
He said if more attention is not accorded the North, the outbreak will be devastating considering the rising number of confirmed cases in its most populous State, Kano, the illiteracy level and culture in the region.
He called for more awareness and sensitization to the people to enable them know the devastating impact of COVID-19 which is adversely affecting socioeconomic activities.
“As we speak many Northerners still think COVID-19 is a scam and not real thereby not adjusting to the current global realities of the time” “They go about shaking hand which is part of their culture, not observing social distancing and seen in large gatherings, actions which are already exposing many of them to the virus”
“There is need for total lockdown in the North to prevent and contain the monstrous COVID-19” he posited.
The Legislator urged NCDC to establish more molecular testing centres in the North which is high risk zone considering the illiteracy level and their way of life.
Rep. Bagos further called on government at all levels to provide palliatives to the people to alleviate the untold economic hardships the coronavirus pandemic has brought to the people.
He admonished the people to adhere to all measures put in place by NCDC, Federal Ministry of Health, World Health Organization (WHO) and government directives aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 and safety of the people.
Calls for increased community vigilance and surveillance
Our patience as a people has been overstretched beyond its elastic limits – Nde Parradang
Former Nigeria’s Comptroller General of Immigration and Senatorial Candidate of the PDP in the 2019 General Election in Plateau Central Zone, Nde David Shikfu Parradang OFR, mni has condemned in strong terms the kidnap of a Traditional Ruler, Pankwal Bogghom, His Royal Highness Alhaji Shehu Sulaiman and the unabated killings in the State.
This he made known in a Press Text as shown below:
PRESS STATEMENT FROM DAVID SHIKFU PARRADANG 21st April, 2020.
I am shocked and sad to hear news of the abduction of the PANKWAL BOGGHOM, His Royal Highness Alhaji Shehu Sulaiman, which filtered in at the wee hours of Monday 20th April, 2020 and in quick succession, the abduction of the wife and child of the REKNA of BASHAR was also announced.
We call for the immediate release of those abducted and pray for their health and well-being as they deal with this unprovoked act of terror.
Once again, this breach of our security has brought a deep sense of grief and heaviness of hearts upon us on the Plateau. Our pains keep increasing as the worsening security situation in our country as a whole and, particularly, Plateau State seems to continue down this dangerous and dark path.
This brazen attack has further cast another thick shadow of doubt and distrust in our security system. The series of crimes, armed attacks, senseless killings, banditry and kidnappings that keep recurring unabatedly in recent times and concentrated within our state without a single arrest has left a lot to be desired from our security agents. Our patience as a people has been overstretched beyond its elastic limits.
Criminals and merchants of crimes have dared us too much and have taken enough pounds of flesh from us. They have taken their evil acts too far; and at a greatly significant cost to us. They have pushed us to the wall and we cannot go any further. We are now one step away from the edge of our limits. However, we are not giving up; it is time to act and act fast. Today it is Kanam; who knows where these agents of evil may strike next?
Looking at the way and manner that our security is constantly compromised, citizens must take the issue of their security personal. If no one seems to care about us, we must care about ourselves by taking very serious and deliberate steps to protect our communities and ancestral lands from any further encroachment by those who do not mean well for our state.
There is a serious and urgent need for community vigilance and surveillance at this time more than ever. If one has not fully appreciated the cliché, “security is everybody’s business,” the time to do that is NOW. We must operate within every legal means to protect our lives, properties and God-given inheritance.
The government and security agencies must rise to the occasion and redeem their battered image. The need to restore trust in the hearts of citizens under the present circumstances cannot be overstressed. The empty rhetoric of “going after criminals” rather than the more intelligent strategy of going before the criminals is an approach that has proven to only reinforce failure time after time.
Since we are long passed the stone ages, the most effective strategy that will work at this time is for the government and security agencies to beef up intelligence gathering and a put in place more practical and proactive measures that will crush the criminals before they make their move.
We must win this war intelligently, not by thumbnail reactions. My prayers are with you as you work round the clock to keep us safe.
May God continue to heal our land, our country and the world in general. Stay at home. Stay safe. Stay secured.
MiddleBelt Reporters 