In a bid to curtail the dreaded Coronavirus from entering Ebonyi State, Governor David Nweze Umahi, FNSE, FNATE, on Saturday, embarked on interstate boundary checks, chiding security men earlier dispatched to the adjoining boundaries of the state to ensure nobody except fuels, food condiments and medical equipment are allowed to enter the state.
Leading the Anti-Corona Virus team which comprised all the security heads in the state from the St Margaret Umahi Int’l Market, the team moved to the boundary between Abaomege and Igbo Imabana Community in Abi LGA of Cross River State.
At the Abi and Abaomege boundary, Governor Umahi uncovered plots by commuters to enter the state against government’s directives and frowned at the attitude of commuters and motorists toward the measure which was taken to avoid further spread of the dreaded virus.
All the commuters coming into the state were asked to return to where they came from, an exercise he personally supervised.
Seeing compliance to the directives, he moved to check the level of compliance at the boundary between Uturu in Abia State and Mile 2 in Ishiagu LGA of Ebonyi State where the same Abaomege scenario played out. He immediately ordered and enforced the returning of all the parked vehicles attempting to sneak into the state through the boundary back to where they came from.
At the scene of the event, a commuter, Mrs Lucy Okafor from Enugu state described Umahi as a man with an excess energy .
Mrs. Okafor said it is only Gov. Umahi that she has seen personally monitoring the compliance of boundary closure which shows that he loves the good people of Ebonyi State.
In her words,
“It is only Ebonyi State Governor that I have seen leading people to boundaries to see if people are flouting the order.”
“Other governors only say it without monitoring compliance, and that’s the reason this thing (virus) is entering other states”.
“This man has excess energy”.
At the end of the exercise – the Governor thanked the committee leaders and members for all their total commitments in ensuring that Covid-19 pandemic is not allowed to enter Ebonyi and further recommended that Ebonyians must take the fight more seriously and that more youths should be immediately mobilized to work with security agents to ensure that all entries into Ebonyi State are completely locked down.
“To all Chairmen of our LGAs, Committee members and leaders, let me highly commend you for all your kind commitment ever since this unfortunate Covid-19 started.
“This lockdown against the movement of passengers and none essential trucks in and out of our State is the only sure way to further protect our people.
“We will involve more youths to work with the security agents day and night in all the exit and entry points of the state to ensure total lockdown.
“I plead that we take this matter very seriously as leakage will not be accepted until we completely win.”
