•Hails Ayade for Production and distribution of face/Nose mask.

•face/Nose mask to get to everyone in Cross Rivers 

The Director General ,Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong has applauded  the governor Senator Professor Ben Ayade for the mass production and distribution of face/nose  mask as the State's major adoptive approach towards curtailing the spread of Covid19.

The DG applauded the governor at the Cross River State garment factory,Calabar,when she moved as part of the First lady's entourage to  supervise activities and work for the mass production of face/nose mask for onward distribution to Cross Riverians and residents across  the state.

The DG who disclosed that various approaches can be employed to check the spread of disease pathogens which are either airborne or through contacts from an infested person to another,applaud the strategy adopted by the Cross River State government to provide and mandate all Cross Riverians for the use of face mask.

Dr Ekpenyong commended the governor for taking proactive steps in ensuring that the covid19 virus doesn't affect any Cross Riverians and resident urged members of the public to ensure strict adherence to the order issued by the  governor restricting inter state movement and wearing of face mask for the time being.

"I want to commend the effort of the Governor, Senator Professor Ben Ayade and his wife Dr Linda Ayade who's here supervising activities at the garment factory to ensure that all Cross Riverians get access to  face mask irrespective of where they are as declared by the declared.

" As Chairman of the Covid19 task force on prevention and control,One of our target to prevent the Covid19 virus is the use of face masks, and as you know ,the governor had earlier given an order that everyone on the streets of Calabar and other parts of the state from Thursday April 3rd must be on face mask,and that is why we are all here in the company of Her Excellency,Our Passion driven first lady,Dr Linda Ayade, to supervise the mass production and ascertain the  quality of this personal protective equipment.

" Earlier in the day,the governor himself along with his wife had distributed a tangible amount of this PPE(Personal Protective Equipment) to Cross Riverians who came out here in their numbers  and plans have already been concluded to decentralize the distribution points so that everyone can get them without subjecting them to any form of hardship"

Senator Ben Ayade had earlier ordered that from Thursday April 6th,no Cross Riverians will be allowed in the street without wearing a face mask citing section 14 sub section 11 of the Constitution as amended as a proactive measure to curb the spread of Covid19 already recorded in neighboring states.

Among others in Her Excellency's entourage were the commissioners for health and chairman of the Cross River State Covid19 response  team,Dr Betta Edu,commissioner for industry, Humanitarian, International development, and other appointees of the Governor.

TheEaglesVoiceblog had gathered, Wanikad community, one of the fastest developing communities in Yala, has been ravaged by windstorm. 

The incident which occurred yesterday, Thursday - April 2, 2020 has left very many families, business owners and the entire community in a helpless state amidst the #Stay@Home directive of government, aimed at curtailing the spread of Covid-19 pandemic currently ravaging the world.

Calling for prompt action of government to provide relief for the teaming population who have been rendered homeless, Hon. Francis Lukpata, Former Councillor of Wanikade Ward took to his Facebook page and WhatsApp last night. He wrote:

"The people of Wanikade are in tears, hunger and homeless as the winds bear their fangs on the community bringing down the roofs and in some cases walls of more than a hundred houses.

Investigation shows that the destroyed buildings include schools, market stalls and living houses.

I want to call on the Cross river state Emergency Management Agency and indeed, the Federal Emergency Management Agency to come to the aid of the affected community especially in this trying period of COVID 19 to avoid leaving the affected individuals to the mercy of the harsh weather conditions."

From the pictures posted on Facebook, the storm left a very devastating effect on the community. 

There was also an unconfirmed report that the storm also hit part of Wanihem, the neighbouring community to Wanikade. 

I want to call on the Government of Cross River State, NEMA, Hon. Umar Faruq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, individuals and all other relevant authorities to come to their aid. 

PRESS RELEASE

COVID-19 PANDEMIC ADVERSE EFFECTS ON CROSS RIVER STATE ECONOMY AND ITS RESULTANT IMPACTS ON THE CITIZENRY IF THE STATE: A CALL FOR FG/CBN INTERVENTION.

Sequel to the formal annoucement sometime in January 2020 by the President Buhari-led federal government initiative for agricultural revolution vis-à-vis massive food production in the nation with particular reference to locally farmed rice production in which federating units were enjoined to be at the forefront of the programme of which our dear state, Cross River State through the ingenuity of Sir Benedict Ayade has keyed in from the inception.

Cross River State through the instrumentalilty and established bureaucracy of the Central Bank of Nigeria swung into action and sunk in billions of Nairas for the production of rice seedlings to be distributed to states into rice cultivation. This, the state has been doing optimally with considerable synergy with parties involved until the outbreak of the pestilential corona virus pandemic that has wrecked almost all aspects of trade and commerce in Nigeria, nay the world.

The impacts of covid-19 pandemic led to the total lockdown of most states in the country with a blockade of human and vehicular movement and as such, all loaded trucks of rice seedlings billed to be delivered to various states were trapped on their ways for almost a week until they became blighted and later on discarded. What a waste!

Since this investment has been negatively impacted as said above, it has resulted to a point where the state government is pitiably unable to pay salaries and wages for the first time in 5 years of the state under the superintendent Governor Benedict Ayade.

We, members of Niger Delta Activists Forum(NDAF) in the state is not ignorant of the fact that Central Bank of Nigeria has insurance measures of paying compensation and indemnifying Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and  Corporate Enterprises adversely impacted by covid-19 pandemic as was clearly stated by the CBN Governor,His Excellency Mr Godwin Emiefele that #50bn has been released to this effect a week ago. In line with the aforesaid, we call on CBN to begin the disbursement of funds to affected entities to cushion this scourge. If this is done, workers will be paid their salaries and the state can still prepare for the exigencies of food shortages (hunger-19 virus)  that would come after the end of covid-19.

Let it be established too that failure to heed to the content of this press release will lead to the picketing of CBN facilities in the state by NDAF and all its affiliate groups.

With God, we shall overcome this moment of covid-19 pandemic.

Yours Trusted!

Comr. Paul Ajie Abang

(State Chairman)

Comr. (Hon) Ogar Emmanuel Oko

(State PRO)

Cc:The Executive Governor of Cross River State

The Director Department of State Security Service (DSS),CRS Command.

Commissioner of Police CRS Command.

Brigade Commander 13 Brigade Akim Barracks Calabar,CRS.

While Nigeria continues to battle the novel Coronavirus pandemic, the Government’s enforced lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun* has reached the third day, but surprisingly, some residents in the Agege area of Lagos State have not been following the order. 

Some Islamic worshippers at Agege Central Mosque (Hausa Community) in Agege violently attacked a combined team of Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, (LASEPA) and Lagos State Safety Commission, journalists and some police officers.

The unfortunate incident which happened on Tuesday night, the first day of the lockdown when the team went out for monitoring and enforcement of the lockdown. 

The team had earlier visited and sealed off a warehouse of Jumia, an online marketing store for contravening the lockdown order by the Federal government.

The agencies also sealed off SPN Packaging Studio Press Nigeria Plc on Plot B, Israel Adebajo Close, Ikeja and Supreme Hotel on 8, Omitola Panada, Agege.

On their way back to Alausa, the team stopped to check if the worshippers were adhering to the directive of the Lagos state government on the reduction of crowd.

The congregation was observing Solatul Ishai (the last part of the five daily prayers).

The LASEPA team leader and two journalists went into the mosque pavilion.

They were surprised by getting to the prayer section. The big mosque, popularly known as Moshalashi Alhaja, was filled to the capacity.

After completion of the prayer, the LASEPA team leader requested to have an audience with the Chief Imam of the Mosque.

A leader in the mosque told him, the Chief Imam was not around.

While requesting for the next person in rank, some members of the congregation started shouting at him.

As some of the mosque’s leaders were trying to calm down, they became more aggressive and manhandled some of the team members.

The team decided to leave when some of the worshippers resorted to carrying some objects.

Soon as they entered their vehicles, the worshippers started shouting Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!!

They chased the team and threw objects at their vehicles.

LASEPA General Manager Dr Dolapo Fasawe condemned the action.

Fasawe described it as barbaric and archaic.

She stressed that the state will not hesitate to sanction violators to serve as a deterrent to others.

“It was obvious that the gathering did not comply with the directive of the state government. The mosque was filled to capacity.

“The essence of social distancing is to contain the spread of Coronavirus. The people are endangering their lives and those of their neighbours. The government has a duty to protecting lives of the people,” she said.

She promised to ensure that appropriate quarters take up the matter, adding that such gathering must not be allowed to continue.

Lagos continues to observe the total lockdown but there’s been a silent change as the Government has announced that markets would be open everyday from 10:00 am till 2:00 pm daily in order for people to be able to get their essential food commodities. 

Following the prevalence of coronavirus infections in neighboring states, the Cross River State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade on Wednesday issued the following executive orders:

1. Starting from 12am on April 3rd, 2020, no person will be allowed in public without a nose or face mask.

2. The Cross River State Garment Factory is directed to work round the clock to produce masks, while observing industrial safe distancing

3. Government to distribute masks for free to residents of the state

4. The Ministry of Humanitarian and Welfare Services, in conjunction with the state Food Bank, to deliver free food to the vulnerable in the state.

4. All exit and entry routes into the state are now completely shut against all human and vehicular movements.

5. All commissioners, special advisers, chairmen, Director Generals, directors and members of boards and commissions as well as special assistants, are hereby co-opted to assist the COVID-19 task force, in ensuring the enforcement and compliance with the guidelines aimed at keeping the state free of the pandemic.

6. Consequently, all those mentioned above are directed to report at the U.J. Esuene Stadium on Friday, April 3rd, 2020, to receive their kits and commence full enforcement along with the Nigerian Police, Military, the Homeland Security Services and the Border Patrol Agency.

7. All commissioners from local governments that border our neighbouring states, are directed to retire back home and take charge of enforcement 

8. The state power company operating the 23megawatt power plant, is directed to power street lights from 6pm to 6am daily

9. Public spirited individuals and organizations willing to serve as Volunteers to support enforcement of COVID-19 guidelines, should register by sending their names and addresses tel no: 08039302693

10. For nose masks, residents should call 08099911011

11. For free food supply, residents should call 08037210284

12. The Cross river state microfinance bank to work for 24 hours.

Let us help keep Cross River safe from coronavirus, adhere strictly to government guidelines

Signed

Christian Ita

Special Adviser

Media and Publicity to Governor