Amid increasing allegations of violation of interstate travel restriction by the federal government, the South East Revival Group (SERG) has commended all the 17 local government chairmen in Enugu State over their commitment to measures aimed at curtaining the spread of Coronavirus disease in the state.
The group particularly gave a passed mark to efforts by the council chairmen at the state boundaries for enforcing the directive by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi that they mobilise to man their land borders, urging governors in the region to construct lockable barriers manned by local vigilante groups to stop defiant interstate travellers violating federal government directives.
In a statement signed by its President/National Coordinator, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the national pan-Igbo pressure urged other state chairmen in the South East to emulate Enugu State council chairmen and increase their policing of their boundaries to check interstate movements, particularly the influx of the South East by Almajiris the northern part of the country.
“The deliberate efforts of all the local government chairmen in Enugu State to stem the spread of Coronavirus disease in the state in line with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s directive that they mobilise and man their boundaries to reduce interstate movements is highly commendable.
“We believe that the Anti-Coronavirus measures by the federal government can only produce the desired results if there is a buy-in by all citizens, particularly grassroots leaders and influencers at the local levels.
“At this stage of the war against COVID19 pandemic, the need for grassroots leaders to do more in area of sensitisation, enlightenment campaigns and palliatives distribution to vulnerable families affected by the impact of the anti-COVID19 measures cannot be overemphasised.
“Therefore, we urge all local government chairmen in the South East to emulate their counterparts in Enugu State to ensure that returnees to their domain observe the prescribed protocol to ensure we win the war on Coronavirus pandemic ravaging the world and causing mass deaths globally.
“We equally urge all South East governors to erect gates or lockable barriers at all their interstate entrance routes and empower local vigilante groups and youths to man them day and night until the pandemic is over to put an end to interstate movements by defiant travellers.
“This has become very needful following reports of continued violation of both curfew imposed by the federal government and non-adherence to interstate lockdown directives, which not only poses health challenges but also security risk”, the SERG stated.
