COVID-19: Plateau Elders Applaud Lalong’s Proactive Measures
BY CHAMBERLAIN ODEY, JOS – Elder statesman, Ambassador Yahaya Kwande and some other elders in Plateau State have commended Governor Simon Lalong over what they described as his dogged stand and proactive measures to check the spread of the pandemic Corona virus to the State.
Coming under the aegis of the Protem Committee of the Plateau Elders Council, Kwande and his colleagues said so far, the government of Lalong has shown unflinching commitment and has adopted several measures to the state and its residents from any possible attack from the dreadful virus that has been ravaging through major world centres and leaving huge human casualties on its trail.
The Plateau Elders Council accordingly called on residents as well as citizens of the state to adhere to the regulations put in place by the government as part of the exigent regime to counter the spread of the Covid-19.
The elders also called for cooperation and hand of fellowship from all to the government as the times are desperate and require citizen maximum understanding and participation in government initiatives.
Meanwhile, day two of the partial lock down of the state has shown some improvement in citizen response and compliance as compare to day one.
The Elders Committee however calls on the government not to relent on its action but to quickly takes steps to open more screening and isolation centres in at least each senatorial district in the State.
The elders said; “We commend in particular the establishment of screening and isolation centres in Jos to handle any unanticipated occurrence on the state and other measures that the government has taken in public interest”.
The elders also call on the government “to use the unwanted opportunity of this pandemic to review its public health policies, especially as our general hospitals and health centres need to be reassessed and reequipped”.
Meanwhile, unlike yesterday, both human and vehicle traffic on the roads and streets of Jos are veritably scanty, indicating more people have yielded to the order to stay at home, just as the famous Terminus business area is today without its characteristic bubble and hustle.
Similarly, the popular Ahmadu Bello Way, and its business and traffic twin, the Murtala Mohammed Way, today witnessed less traffic and pressure from vehicles, hawkers, beggars, and street encroaching traders as most of the shops were locked, and traders generally stayed away in what analysts say is not unconnected with a reinforced message by the State Police Commissioner, Isaac Akinmoyede, who yesterday warned of the ennobled resolve of the Police to tale the law to the court of violators of the stay-at-home directive.
At Dilimi, Katako, Gada Biu, Dadin Kowa, Ferin Gada, Bauchi Road Park, Chobe, Kwararafa, Kabong, and Tudun Wada, all of the suburbs, business destinations, population and traffic hobs of the Jos Metropolis, were in unusually low ebb as the lockdown consolidates and the reality grinds into individual and collective consciousness.
According to analysts and purveyors of the emergent sociology and economics of the uncommon development, citizen compliance to the lockdown will improve in the next few days, but expressed fear that without palliatives put in place to cushion worsening hunger and poverty, the lock down may collapse with possible citizen protests return to daily business.
