COVID 19: FCTA Vows To Enforce Cessation of Movement Across FCT
…As minister of State coordinates palliative measures
BY GRACE ANYANWU, ABUJA – As part of measures aimed at stemming the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic in the Federal Capital Territory, the administration has vowed that it would enforce the cessation of movement order placed on the nation’s capital by President Muhammadu Buhari to the latter.
Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, who announced the decision of the FCT administration at the end of an emergency security meeting on Monday, said that “all organs of the FCT Security Services and other government agencies have agreed and worked out modalities to ensure that all entry and exit points of the FCT and by extension, other satellite towns, are manned by relevant officials to ensure that everybody stays home”
This is even as the FCT Minister disclosed that he was tested for COVID-19 and his results came out as negative.
Bello told journalists in a late briefing after the emergency meeting which was attended by the heads of the various military formations, paramilitary agencies and senior administrative staff of the FCTA, the Minister, that the best way of overcoming the disease is by being disciplined and following all the prescribed measures by the health authorities.
The FCT Minister said that such measures include staying indoors with the exception of those legally permitted to move around, stressing that defaulters of the cessation of movement will be arrested and prosecuted.
Bello declared; “I want to also reiterate that except those that have been allowed and are exempted from this cessation of movement, all other citizens and residents of the FCT are enjoined to stay indoors. Where these regulations are flouted, I want to emphasize that the security agencies have been empowered to arrest and prosecute defaulters because we will not allow any individual or groups, as a result of their inability to honour medical advice, jeopardize the health of multiples, because as has been shown the world over, one of the greatest weapons to fight this disease is confinement and containment in one place.
“That way, contact tracing becomes much easier and those that are infected are easily provided medical services.”
Speaking on palliative measures being put in place to cushion the effect of the cessation of movement on vulnerable members of the society, the Minister said that the FCT Palliative Committee headed by the Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, will be supported by the Chairman of the six Area Councils, traditional and religious authorities, NGOs and other support groups, adding that the FCT already has modalities in place to identify the truly indigent members of society that will require assistance.
Bello further said; “The system of identifying vulnerable people within the FCT community is already in place, using the 60-ward structure of INEC, as well as the traditional and religious authorities.
“Within every community, those that are vulnerable are known and also, under our Social Development Secretariat, we already have a database of vulnerable people that have been taken care of under the conditional cash transfer.
“The FCTA will also tap into the data base of religious groups that already have records of the indigent in their various communities whom they have been assisting even prior to the current outbreak of COVID 19.”
The minister reminded the residents of the territory of their individual and collective responsibilities in fighting the disease.
Quoting President Buhari, the FCT Minister said; ‘as individuals, we remain the greatest weapon in fighting COVID 19. So, I’m appealing to all residents of the FCT to stay indoors and abide by all the regulations of the health and security authorities.
