By: Esther Okoi,CRS- MOI Officer reporting from Ministry of Youth Development& Skills Acquisition
In furtherance of the efforts of the Cross River State Governor, Sen. (Prof) Ben Ayade ensure that the State remains Corona Virus free, the State Commissioner for Youth Developmement & Skills Acquisition, Hon. Signor Omang Idiege has urged Youth bodies and traditional leaders to intensify the sensitisation campaign against the spread of the COVID-19 in the State.
Signor Idiege who commended the Governor for his foresightedness which has made the State remain COVID 19 free despite her status as a tourists destination in the midst of the alarming spread of the pandemic, stated that sustaining this free status requires effective and sustained sensitisation at the Ward and Community levels for proper understanding of the directives of the Government and the COVID-19 pandemic as a whole.
Giving this charge to traditional leaders and Youth Councils in the 18 Local Government Areas, the Commissioner called on them to mobilise their respective communities across the 196 Wards of the State to internalise the hand washing, nose mask wearing and other measures for the prevention of the virus while ensuring that Government regulations and efforts towards maintaining a zero status are sustained.
He further urged that Community Leaders in all of the communities should sensitise the people to be calm and orderly as the COVID-19 State task force distribute relief materials as palliatives from the State Government to cushion the effect of the lock down and stay at home directives on the poor and vulnerable in our communities.
Commissioner Idiege who also charged the youths to liaise with their traditional leaders to ensure the strict enforcement and sustenance of the lock down of boarder communities and stay at home directives of the State Government, had on the 29th of March, 2020 ensured that this directive of the State Government was adequately carried out in Gakem Community in Bekwarra Local Government Area, which is a border town between Cross River and Benue State, when he instituted military presence in the area and mobilised the youths for the course. He however implored them to remain calm, stay safe and support the State Government to ensure that not even one case is recorded from the State.
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