The Deputy Governor of Benue state who is also Chairman of Benue state COVID-19 Action Committee, Mr. Benson Abounu, has said the state Governor, Samuel Ortom, is on self isolation after one of the governor’s close Permanent Secretaries and his entire family members have been tested positive for COVID-19.
Mr. Abounu, who represented Governor Ortom made this known on Sunday at the 2021 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Church service held at the ECWA Church in Makurdi.
He implored Benue people to ensure strict compliance with COVID-19 protocols in order to control the spread of the virus in the state, adding that the Governor who had not shown any symptoms of the virus would soon complete his period of isolation.
“As I speak with you, the Governor has been in isolation for about nine days and has shown no symptoms or signs of the virus. So, I’m happy to inform you that by tomorrow we should be able to certify him free and he will resume work.
“Presently the State has an infection rate of over 489 persons. Though we are still doing relatively well compared to other states, the only tactics to fight the virus is by keeping to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, protocols,” he said.
Abounu lauded the armed forces for their resilience in the fight against insurgency and banditry in parts of the country noting that “Benue is currently enjoying relative peace because of the efforts made by military.
“We must commend and celebrate them because they have given their all including their lives to serve this country in the fight against insurgency, banditry and general insecurity in the country.”
The state Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Apjen Leva also commended the armed forces for their efforts put in fighting against insecurity, insurgency and crimes in the country.
He remarked that the spate of killings, banditry and kidnappings had become a threat to the unity of the country.
Rev. Leva also urged the Federal Government to reconsider the ongoing exercise of National Identification Number (NIN) registration if the spread of coronavirus needs to be stopped.
“If we are serious about checking the spread of COVID-19 in this country, that exercise should be discontinued immediately because it obviously provides that fertile ground to spread the virus across the country,” he said