Government News Source|19 March 2020
Concerned about the novel coronavirus, the global pandemic currently ravaging different parts of the world, Cross River Lawmakers have called on the Government to urgently put in place measures to forestall the spread of the disease in the state.
The Lawmakers who expressed concern about the influx of goods and persons from neighboring Cameroun without proper checks resolved that a combined team of relevant military and paramilitary outfits and other relevant agencies be mobilized to regularly patrol the State’s border to check illegal movement of goods and persons.
The House further resolved that the State Ministry of Health should urgently provide sanitizers and temperature testing equipment to public institutions including schools, offices and other public places across the State in line with global preventive regulations.
These resolutions were taken after Members deliberated on a matter of urgent public interest sponsored by Hon Elvert Ayabem Ekom representing Ikom II, who drew the attention of his colleagues to the influx of goods and persons from Cameroun through Ikom, Mfum, Ikang and Ajassor borders into the state.
Ekom further observed that Cameroun has recorded a confirmed case of the coronavirus and lamented that Cameroonian refugees are freely entering the state without proper checks.
The lawmakers unanimously agreed that the spread of coronavirus, also known as Covid 19 in China, Italy, France, USA other more developed nations of the world is alarming hence the need for urgent steps to be taken to intensify regulation of entry and exit in all borders across the state.
Members also decried the absence of any form of preventive measures in the Assembly complex asking for medical personnel to be stationed at the entry of the complex to scrutinize all those entering the complex.
On his part, the Speaker, Rt Hon Eteng Williams directed the Clerk to send clean copies of the resolution to the Governor and other stakeholders for implementation.
Source: Itam Offor
