The Enugu State Ministry of Health announces that five (5) COVID-19 confirmed positive cases in the state have tested negative and consequently discharged from the isolation and treatment centres.
However, one more positive case has been confirmed in the state.
Total number of cases for Enugu State is now 19, with 6 active cases and 13 discharged.
The new COVID-19 patient (Case 19) is a 40 year old female, who hails from Igbo-Etiti LGA of Enugu State and returned home from Lagos State in violation of the restriction order on inter-state movement.
The State Ministry of Health with massive support from the Governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the State Executive Council (EXCO), has continued to provide treatment for the existing cases, respond to emergency alerts, carry out contact tracing and follow up on suspects.
The directives of the Federal and Enugu State governments and the public health advisories of the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, and the Enugu State Ministry of Health, remain as important as ever and should be strictly adhered to.
Stay home when it is not absolutely necessary to go out.
Wear a facemask/covering whenever you must go out
Keep a safe distance from other people at all times, which is social/physical distancing and avoid crowded places.
Practice good respiratory hygiene (when coughing or sneezing)
Clean surfaces with a 1 in 6 concentration of bleach and water.
Wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds under running water as often as possible.
And when facilities for hand washing are unavailable, sanitize your hands as often as possible using an alcohol based hand sanitizer.
When You do these, you protect me, and when I do these, I protect you.
Let us Stay Safe!
Signed Dr. Obi Emmanuel Ikechukwu Commissioner for Health, Enugu State.
Pushing further a transformational vision of Enugu State, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi continues to deploy special focus and an intimate understanding of his turf to address key human development, infrastructure, economic and sundry challenges and perhaps not surprisingly, is indeed changing the Enugu story.
As his administration clocks its fifth year, the unassuming, highly focused former national legislator has simply reaffirmed the enduring truth that, indeed, political inclusion, empathetic human development and justice are the first conditions of a viable democracy.
Gov. Ugwuanyi took over the mantle of leadership of Enugu State on May 29, 2015, when the country was in recession as a result of drastic drop in the crude oil prices in the international market. Consequently, the state was confronted with paucity of funds coupled with inherited debts and other huge wage bills to be serviced.
It could not be disputed that the nation’s economic challenges adversely affected the state’s allocations from the federation account, to the extent that there were limited funds to attend to development issues and other sundry needs of the public.
Enugu’s purse grew leaner as federal allocations dwindled to an all-time low – a source of worry the past governor of the state, Barr. Sullivan Chime acknowledged during the thanksgiving Mass to commemorate the end of his administration.
This undoubtedly posed a serious threat to the speedy actualization of the governor’s well-thought-out vision for the people of the state as contained in his administration’s four-point agenda.
The situation was so bad that 27 states, excluding Enugu State, could not pay workers’ salaries, let alone embark on capital projects. The governors resorted to bailout funds unlike their predecessors who had access to the excess crude oil funds which enabled them to execute sundry capital projects.
Despite all these challenges, Gov. Ugwuanyi remained undaunted and focused in his vision to build Enugu State of the founding fathers’ dream, where everybody irrespective of class, religion or political association is given equal rights to dividends of democracy, in a peaceful and secure environment. The fulcrum of his administration’s policy thrust was centered on peace, grassroots development drive and knowledge-driven economy through innovations to “harness those potentials which free oil money has blinded us from exploiting”. His vision was to lead the state out of the economic crunch and rekindle the confidence of the people, especially the lowly and long neglected in the rural communities, in a viable, participatory democracy.
The neglect hitherto suffered by the majority of the state’s population in the rural areas was overbearing and created a hydra-headed imbalance in the distribution of democracy dividends between urban and rural inhabitants. It was a winner-takes-all scenario, as concentration of development projects in Enugu metropolis became the only barometer to assess performance of a government in the state.
In his inaugural address after assuming the mantle of leadership in 2015, following an overwhelming endorsement at the poll by the people of Enugu State, Gov. Ugwuanyi, as a grassroots-politician, promised to pay special attention to rural development. His decision was anchored on the fact that the majority of the people of Enugu State reside in the rural areas and deserve a sense of belonging, peace and reward of good governance.
This was in line with his vision to “deploy government services to create fair and equal opportunity for every willing citizen to make a living and create wealth, educate our children, and enjoy life in a peaceful and secure environment”.
Five years down the line, Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration has vigorously and religiously pursued this lofty vision, closing the urban-rural imbalance in the distribution of basic amenities. Consequently, his administration has constructed and rehabilitated over 600 kilometres of road across the state, mostly in the rural areas.
Gov. Ugwuanyi has ensured an enduring peace in the state, a cherished feat that has made it possible for the state’s political leaders to unite and forge a common force for progress and rapid development. One is therefore proud to say that peace is now synonymous with Enugu State.
As the long-neglected communities in Enugu State are appreciating the people’s governor for remembering them with one development project or another, the state workers are singing praises and dancing on the streets of Enugu, also in appreciation of the governor’s exceptional love and commitment to their welfare and for the existing cordial government-labour relationship.
The most recent experience was the workers’ “Thank-you” visit to Ugwuanyi for being the first governor of the state, since the inception of democracy in 1999, to pay them the minimum wage without rancour.
Beyond this, workers’ salaries are paid on the 23rd of every month while pensions are also paid regularly, with or without receipt of statutory allocations from the federation account – even at the time 27 states could not pay because of nation’s economic meltdown. Again, the state government has remained consistent with the payment of the “13th month” salary to workers as Christmas bonus.
This was as a result of the impressive performance of the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service in raising the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR), following the far-reaching reforms introduced by the Ugwuanyi administration.
There is no doubt that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s rural development policy coupled with his uncommon leadership style has indeed dignified him as a great asset to the people of Enugu State, who in gratitude overwhelmingly reelected him with an unprecedented 95.54 percent of the votes cast, the highest in the history of the country.
As the governor was in a hurry, hitting the ground running to fully actualize his administration’s promises after reviewing the public sector for optimal service delivery, the world was hit with the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which brought the socio-economic life of the people and governments to a standstill, forcing government structures across the globe to review their policies and development agenda and focus on health.
Despite this, Ugwuanyi’s administration responded swiftly and expediently to contain the spread of the virus in the state and ensure that the effect of the pandemic does not adversely affect the state’s development programmes. His administration immediately approved and released N350 million to the State COVID-19 Multi-Sectoral Rapid Response Team to tackle the health challenge. It also ensured that the effect does not harmfully affect the people, especially the lowly and less privileged, through the ongoing distribution of palliatives. In spite of the pandemic and its obvious adverse economic effects, state workers have continued to receive their full salaries while various degrees of welfare packages were approved for the health workers as incentive to battle the virus.
As Isolation and Treatment Centres for COVID-19 were established and fully equipped in the University town of Nsukka and the ESUT Teaching Hospital Parklane, Enugu, the ultramodern Enugu State Medical Diagnostic Centre in Enugu, completed by the Ugwuanyi administration, was also equipped and designated as isolation and treatment centre to enhance the state’s preparedness and capacity to fully tackle the pandemic should the disease escalate.
In furtherance of all this, the Ugwuanyi’s administration is presently carrying out a massive reconstruction and construction of new structures at the Colliery Hospital Enugu, which has been designated as an Infectious Disease Isolation and Treatment Centre. Importantly, Gov. Ugwuanyi has continued to keep wake at night and also visit state’s land boundaries to monitor and enforce Presidential directive on 8pm-6am nationwide curfew and inter-state movement restriction order, respectively.
Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, the state government had made a mark in the health sector such as the construction and renovation of district hospitals and health centres in the state, especially in the rural areas under the primary healthcare programme; the upgrade of Udi District Hospitals and Polly Clinic, Asata, to General Hospitals, after their rehabilitation; construction of 200-bed Igbo Ano Specialist Hospital, Enugu North Senatorial District, to serve as facilities for the ESUT College of Medicine that has been relocated to Nsukka; the launch of the Universal Health Coverage to provide comprehensive health care delivery to residents of the state, among others.
On security, apart from various interventions in enhancing the security architecture to sustain the state’s enviable status as one of the most peaceful and safest in the country, Ugwuanyi’s administration recently procured and donated 100 units of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) patrol vans equipped with communication gadgets to the security agencies to aid their operations in the state. The state government engaged 1,700 novel Forest Guards (first to do so in the South East zone), repositioned the Vigilante/Neighborhood Watch groups and purchased 260 security vehicles for their Community Policing operations.
Five newly procured IVM fire-fighting trucks were handed over to the state fire service, for the five newly constructed fire service stations across the three senatorial districts of the state, to enhance their efficiency and effective response to emergencies.
On infrastructure, some of the signature road projects include the remodeled ancient, historic and undulating 11km Milliken Hill-Ngwo-9th Mile road – a tourist attraction and state’s natural roller coaster; the state-of-the-art 12km Opi-Nsukka dual carriageway with a spur to the UNN gate; the Ebonyi River Bridge, Ikem; the 31km Udenu Ring road with two high-tech bridges; Iva Valley road, Enugu; the 8.8km Nkalagu-Eha Amufu road in Isi-Uzo LGA, neglected for over 35 years; the 26.66km Ukpabi-Nimbo-Ugbene Ajima-Eziani road in Uzo-Uwani LGA and the 22.443km Neke-Mbu-Ogbodu Aba-Obollo Etiti inter-community road linking Isi-Uzo and Udenu LGAs being constructed by the state government in conjunction with the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP-2).
Others include the newly inaugurated 13km Nike Lake junction-Harmony Estate-Amorji Nike-Adoration Pilgrimage Centre – Orie Emene road, constructed across the thick forest of Umuchigbo community, linking the ever-busy and thickly populated Abakpa Nike with Emene satellite town in Enugu East LGA; 8.2km Inyi-Akpugoeze road in Oji River LGA, the Ituku Road in Awgu LGA and the Amurri road in Nkanu West Local Government Area constructed for a hitherto neglected community that has not experienced any form of government development on its land in the past 100 years, etc.
It would be recalled that Ugwuanyi’s administration, three months in office, spearheaded the massive development of urban and rural roads across the three senatorial districts of the state, in Emene, Abakpa-Nike, 9th Mile Corner and the University town of Nsukka. Shortly after, 35 grassroots development projects across the 17 Local Government Areas of Enugu State, were simultaneously awarded and executed, ensuring that every council benefited at least one project from the programme.
The N10 million “one community, one project” scheme, also recorded a huge success in expanding development to the frontiers of the rural areas – an initiative that gives every community in the state the opportunity to decide their priority projects. This also ensures that communities that have never experienced any government presence benefit, accordingly.
The first phase of the Enugu State Secretariat annex in Nsukka satellite town is nearing completion while the construction of the Nsukka Township Stadium and more internal roads in Nsukka town are ongoing, in keeping with the governor’s inaugural address to equip and modernize the University town of Nsukka as the second largest town in Enugu State.
In achieving all these landmarks, the Enugu urban is not left out as numerous roads and other infrastructure were rehabilitated in line with the state’s urban renewal drive. Some of them include: the Holy Trinity Street and Bishop Michael Eneje Street, Independence Layout, Enugu; Mount Crescent, GRA, Enugu; Orofia Street, off Nza Street, Independence Layout, Enugu; Dental School – Tipper Garage road, Trans Ekulu, Enugu; Loma Linda- Timber Shed road, Maryland, Enugu; Nwafia Street, Independence Layout, Enugu; Mbanefo Street, New Haven, Enugu.
Others include, the Secretariat Road, G.R.A, Enugu; Court Avenue by new State Secretariat, Enugu; Ibuza Street at Independence Layout, Enugu; Isi Uzo Street at Independence Layout, Enugu; Owerri Road and Poly Clinic Road, Asata, Enugu; Carter street, off Ogui road; renovation of the Enugu State House of Assembly Complex and rehabilitation and re-asphalting of the popular Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, and a host of others, including various intervention on federal roads.
The first Enugu State Customary Court of Appeal Headquarters complex and other infrastructural development projects in the State Judiciary are standing tall as among the legacy projects of the Ugwuanyi administration. Adjacent to the popular Michael Okpara Square, Enugu is the Unity Park formerly known as Forest Reserve, wearing a new look to serve as a tourist attraction and a place for relaxation and recreation when completed. The vision behind the interventions at the park is also to preserve the state’s heritage for generations yet unborn.
A lot of new projects are ongoing and more contracts are being awarded to improve the people’s standard of living in spite the state’s lean resources and outbreak of COVID-19.
On education and empowerment, over 5000 primary and secondary school teachers have been recruited in the last five years while 897 classroom blocks and other school projects have been constructed, renovated and/or equipped with learning tools to improve the standard of education in the state. Above all, a review of primary and secondary classroom blocks across the state is ongoing for a comprehensive intervention by the state government.
While landmark interventions are being witnessed in the state-owned tertiary institutions, it is pertinent to note that the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, under this present administration had its first convocation after 11 years.
The first phase of the traders empowerment scheme assisted 3,600 genuine traders with the sum of N50,000 each to grow their various businesses. 750 youths were empowered in skills acquisition under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) programme. 680 indigent engineering students of Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwollo, Ezeagu L.G.A and the IMT, Enugu, were awarded scholarship for four years of academic studies as well as the recent scholarship offered to 22 indigent post-secondary school students who are presently studying at Mewar University, India. Importantly, the state government, two years ago, launched the Enugu Clean Team Project which has engaged 1000 youths (additional 1000 underway) in cleaning up the state to enhance and sustain its rating as one of the healthiest and cleanest cities in the country, among others.
The economic indices of Enugu State have remained favorable in the eyes of observers as the state’s ratings have been outstanding in the last five years, such as the second most advanced state in Nigeria towards the frontier of global good practices with regards to Ease of Doing Business, by the World Bank Group, and the most recent- the 9th best performing state in terms of IGR for the year 2019, among others.
From the above highlights, it is indisputable that Gov. Ugwuanyi has performed creditably and has remained committed to his solemn mandate to continue to reward ‘Ndi Enugu’ with peace and good governance and build Enugu State of the founding fathers’ dream. Let us, therefore, continue to pray and support his development and people-centered administration as he continues to create a genuinely humane society. Happy Anniversary! Enugu State is truly in the hands of God!
It has been one year since the present government in Kwara State was ushered in through a sea breeze of change. It was seemingly a reflection of a general feeling of peoples malcontent with the system as it then was. The whys and wherefores of that event will be left for discussion on another day. As they say, we are where we are. It is now one year that this APC government has been in power. It is therefore a reasonable and legitimate exercise to audit and comment on its performance so far.
Governance is no child’s play. It requires more than the superficial aesthetics of driving oneself around in a Hilux van in an attempt to court populist applause. Governance requires hard work, commitment, dedication to duty and ability to confront and resolve both the mundane and exceptional tasks. Governance requires an ability to balance the various competing factors for the maximum benefit of the masses. It follows therefore that the monotonous finger-pointing at past administration’s purported deficiencies does not cut the mustard and does not benefit the people who elected you into power.
To be fair, this Government should not be benchmarked against other more prosperous states of the federation, regardless of which regions they are. However, the irreducible minimum benchmark has to be the manifesto and campaign promises made to the electorate. Let us therefore evaluate some critical sectors.
THE ECONOMY. In this broad category, there are a number of specific campaign promises made by Kwara APC to the electorate as follows:
JOBS: Kwara APC said that they would create thousands of jobs for the youths of Kwara State on the basis that they will attract investment into the State and also support small and medium enterprises to grow. In the first few months of the administration the Governor was seen globe-trotting solo (USA, Japan, South Africa etc), in the name of looking for “investors”. It is quite disappointing that, after spending so much taxpayers money on these foreign trips, he has not been able to bring a single company to invest in Kwara. Never mind the foreign companies, not even a local Nigerian company has come to invest in Kwara.
This situation can be contrasted with the job creating initiatives of the previous administrations such as Kwara State University (KWASU), International Aviation College, Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre and the privately owned Kwara Mall. All these enterprises still employ hundreds of kwarans till today.
MINIMUM WAGE: During the campaign, Kwara APC gave strong assurances that, if elected, they would immediately adopt and pay the new minimum wage of N30,000. Sadly, the Governor has not only reneged on this promise, but has positively taken steps to frustrate its actualisation. First he set up committees to try and delay the matter. When that didn’t work, he orchestrated the committee report to be incomprehensible and unacceptable to Labour. In the end, he simply tossed the whole thing to the sideline never to be spoken of again.
Kwara State is predominately a civil service state. Therefore, if you want to improve your economic growth, you simply cannot ignore uplifting the welfare and purchasing power of your largest employed sector. This was the driving force which led the immediate past administration to implement recommendations of Bukola Saraki led administration that minimum wage should be increased from N5,500 to N18,000 per month. Any Government that cares about its workforce will not keep its workers in penury especially when cost of living has risen exponentially.
SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (SMEs): The other vital sector of Kwara’s economy is the Small and Medium-sized enterprises that litter every corner and facet of the State- the market women; the petty trader; the electronics trader; the furniture maker; the mechanics; the transporters; the tailors etc. They were promised heaven and earth by Kwara APC during campaign. Sadly, rather than delivering on those promises, these entrepreneurs have been on the receiving end of government draconian actions. Shops have been forcefully closed down and destroyed without compensation on the basis that they “deface” the city. They have been levied higher taxes way beyond their ability to pay. Business are folding up by the day.
ROAD CONSTRUCTION: It is quite pitiful to read the list of achievements that the Kwara State Government is bandying about on social media. A small collection of on-going 1 to 3 kilometre roads totalling about 33km. This is exceptionally shameful. It is nothing to write home about. To be sure, the last two administrations executed road projects measured in hundreds of kilometres in their first years.
EDUCATION: The education sector has not witnessed any improvement under this government. No new schools have been built. No meaningful renovation program has been embarked upon. Schools have been left to deteriorate. Rather than reduce fees as promised, this government has increased fees for KWASU.
HEALTH: Despite the noisy campaign promises, this government has not deemed it fit to undertake any significant capital project in the health sector. With the exception of a handful few, all the equipments present in state-owned health facilities today are those purchased by the last two previous administrations. The occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic has really exposed the ineptitude of the Kwara State Government. Whilst the Federal Government and other State Governments have been very proactive in managing the crises, the response in Kwara can be described as mediocre and lack-lustre at best. It is worthy of note that the Governor, as Chief Executive, failed to take the lead in managing the crisis. In fact, he has been conspicuously absent on the issue, having originally gone into hiding at the initial outbreak of the crisis in the state.
An analysis of all other sectors will yield the same results.
This spectacular failure by the Kwara State Government so far is evidence that the Governor and his Party were not prepared for governance. Having won an unexpected victory, and thrown in at the deep end, they now seem completely lost at sea.
It took the Governor almost 7 months from swearing-in to appoint Commissioners. After such a long wait, all he could muster was a motley collection of administrative and political novices and neophytes who have no experience in running government. The Special Advisers and Assistants are not much better except one or two very experienced well known former original Sarakites.
Even more shocking is the fact that ever since the formation of the cabinet, there has only been one State Executive Council meeting held. It means therefore that for the last one year, decisions have been taken autocratically in Kwara State by the Governor. The normal safeguard of the constitutionally provided cabinet decisions have been completely eroded.
It is therefore not surprising that the Governor does not wish let the Freedom of Information Bill come to light. He has tossed that can back to the House of Assembly in the guise of effecting “minor amendments”. This is obviously a design to ensure that the House kills the Bill.
It would be generous if one described this Kwara State Goverment as ‘under- performing’. The stark reality is that this administration is ‘non-performing’.
As I have said before, the job of opposition is not to be blindly negative, but to constructively criticise the Government. No true Kwaran would want its government to fail, whatever the Party affiliation. I wish civil servants
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, on Thursday, amid jubilation, inaugurated the 13-kilometre Nike Lake Junction-Harmony Estate-Amorji Nike- Adoration Pilgrimage Centre –Orie Emene road, newly constructed by his administration across the thick forest of Umuchigbo community in Enugu East Local Government Area of the state.
The virgin road constructed with lined drains and five river crossings, including culverts and bridges, now links the ever-busy and thickly populated Abakpa Nike with Emene satellite town.
Expressing joy during the inauguration of the project, the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria (AMEN), Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, described the road as unprecedented and a miracle.
Fr. Mbaka disclosed that “this ultra-modern road built by the Governor of Enugu State, our beloved Gburugburu, before now was a thick forest”, stressing: “There was no road of any kind here before now. The governor started it from the bush clearing to this asphalting level. In fact, this road is a miracle”.
The cleric added: “I dreamt of it, I envisioned it, the governor achieved it. May God be glorified and may the governor of Enugu State be blessed in Jesus Name. Amen”.
Inaugurating the road, Gov. Ugwuanyi stated that the project “was conceived by my administration as the first bypass to ease the traffic flow in Enugu East Senatorial Zone including the interstate vehicular movements on the recommendation of the Enugu State Urban Renewal Committee”.
The governor said that the bypass opens up development at the Harmony Estate and also provides access to the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu currently undergoing massive rehabilitation.
He added that the completion of the entire road project was consistent with his administration’s procurement policy of ‘start-to-finish’, noting that “the stretch from Airport roundabout to Eke Obinagu in Emene was also duly completed and inaugurated by my administration, elevating the status of Emene and its environs, hitherto a semi-urban city, to now an urban city within Enugu Capital Territory”.
The governor pointed out that the project will help to inflate the local economy and open a new economic corridor through stimulation of commerce and creation of employment/job opportunities for the teeming youths.
The epoch-making event was also witnessed by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi, the Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Ngozi Emehelu, the member representing Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency, Hon Cornelius Nnaji, the PDP State Chairman, Hon. Augustine Nnamani and the Enugu East Council Chairman, Hon. Alex Ugwu, among others.
The Enugu State Ministry of Health wishes to give an update on the 2 more COVID-19 confirmed positive cases in the state as just announced by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), as follows:
The total number of cases for Enugu State is now 18, with 10 active cases and 8 discharged.
The first new case (Case 17) is a 45-year-old male who hails from Igbo-Eze North LGA of Enugu State and lives in Lagos State but still managed to make his way to Enugu State on the 21st of May, 2020 despite the inter-state movement restriction.
Concerned members of his community alerted the health authorities, since he too was already ill, leading to his assessment and testing. His result returned positive for COVID-19 on the 23rd of May 2020.
The second new case (Case 18) is the 62-year-old Mother-in-Law of Case 16, who has become a positive contact. Case 16 as earlier reported, evaded the inter-state boundary restriction, all the way from Lagos State and across several other states (obviously assisted by unscrupulous individuals), to bury her recently deceased husband in their community in Igbo-Etiti LGA of Enugu State.
Evading or assisting anyone to evade the inter-state movement restriction, is unlawful, of no known benefit and has instead contributed to the rising number of COVID-19 positive cases in the state.
Such actions are militating against the measures put in place by the Enugu State Government to prevent the spread of the virus and should be discouraged by all well-meaning inhabitants of the state.
It is in our best interest to continue to comply with the directives of the Federal and Enugu State governments and the public health advisory of the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, and the Enugu State Ministry of Health.
This is a time to encourage family members or friends, especially if ill, to remain where they are and seek health care. To discourage family and friends who want to move the body of a deceased loved one several miles away in these times, for interment. To stay at home when it is not absolutely necessary to go out. Wear a facemask/covering whenever you must go out. Keep a safe distance from other people at all times, which is social/physical distancing and avoid crowded places. Practice good respiratory hygiene (when coughing or sneezing). Clean surfaces with a 1 in 6 concentration of bleach and water. Wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds under running water as often as possible. And when facilities for handwashing are unavailable, sanitize your hands as often as possible using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
When You do these, you protect me, and when I do these, I protect you.
Let us Stay Safe!
Signed Dr. Obi Emmanuel Ikechukwu Commissioner for Health, Enugu State.
COVID-19 inter-state movement ban: Gov. Ugwuanyi turns back over 100 offending vehicles entering Enugu from Ebonyi State
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, this evening, paid an unscheduled visit to Enugu-Ebonyi boundary to monitor compliance with the ban on inter-state transportation aimed at containing the spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
The governor who met over 150 vehicles queued at the Enugu axis of the boundary, attempting to enter the state, painstakingly trekked a long distance interrogating the drivers, one by one, to ascertain their eligibility for entering the state.
Consequently, over 100 vehicles that were not on essential duties were identified and turned back to Ebonyi State where they were coming from.
While on the enforcement exercise, Gov. Ugwuanyi met with the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Barr. Kelechi Igwe, who was on transit, and had a brief discussion with him.
On the occasion of this year’s Eid-el-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, has enjoined Muslims and indeed all Nigerians, to remain resolute in their abiding faith in God, through prayers and sacrifice, as the nation battles to contain the spread of the novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
In a statement, Gov. Ugwuanyi, who congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and other Muslim faithful on the successful completion of Ramadan, added that the religious exercise will go a long way in the nation’s collective efforts to winning the war against COVID-19 as well as sustain the peace, unity and progress of the country.
While wishing all Muslims a pleasant celebration, the governor urged Nigerians to stay safe, remain steadfast in prayers and continue to love and cherish one another.
“This is an unusual time, not only for us as a people but for the entire humanity and the world. I therefore urge that we remain committed to the core values that strengthen the bond that brought us together as a prosperous nation, as we fight back in solidarity and in determined effort to contain this COVID-19 pandemic”, Gov. Ugwuanyi said.
COVID-19: Enugu State government commences decontamination of all court premises, offices, fuel stations
The Enugu State Fire Service, today, commenced the decontamination and fumigation of all court premises and offices in the state, starting from the State Judiciary Headquarters complex at the Independence Layout, Enugu.
Briefing newsmen at the State High Court complex, the State Chief Fire Officer, Engr. Okwudiri Ohaa, said that the ongoing exercise was directed by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in furtherance of his administration’s efforts to contain the spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Enugu State.
Engr. Ohaa explained that the first phase of the decontamination will cover the High Courts and Magistrates Courts, while the second phase will be the turn of the Customary Courts.
Noting that the court premises are among the sensitive places that attract influx of people, the Chief Fire Officer recalled that the administration of Gov. Ugwuanyi had recently carried out the decontamination exercise in Enugu metropolis and its environs, all major markets in the state, motor parks, hospitals, among other high traffic areas.
Engr. Ohaa who disclosed that the exercise will be repeated in some of the areas, pointed out that “from here (State High Court complex) we go to filling stations where essential services are also being rendered”.
He added that the exercise will equally be extended to “Nsukka zone and Awgu zone”, stressing that “it is only Enugu State that has been consistent in the decontamination and disinfection of its environs”.
His words: “The records are there; we have covered over 300 high human traffic areas in the state and we are continuing. The substance we are using for the fumigation and decontamination is powerful chlorine disinfectant mixed with calcium hypochlorite. It is internationally recognized and not harmful to health”.
Responding, the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, Mrs. Martha Aroh-Onuoha, on behalf of the Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Priscilla Ngozi Emehelu, thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi for his administration’s sheer commitment to safety, health and wellbeing of the people of the state.
The Chief Registrar said that decontamination exercise coincided with the directive of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, “that all courts should be decontaminated”, describing the exercise by the state government as a welcome development. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1162576200752610&id=100010007227700
Two more COVID-19 confirmed cases in Enugu State test negative as state records one positive case with travel history, in violation of inter-state transportation ban
The Enugu State Ministry of Health announces that 2 more active COVID-19 cases undergoing treatment in Enugu State have tested negative and are being assessed for discharge from the isolation and treatment centre.
However, we have 1 new positive case.
Consequently, the total number of cases for Enugu State is now 16 cases, with 8 active cases and 8 discharged cases.
The two cases that have become negative are case number 3 and her son who is case number 10.
The new positive case (case 16) is a 39 year old indigene of Enugu State who lives in Lagos State. He made his way to Enugu State in violation of the restriction order and arrived on the 13th of May, 2020.
On an alert, since he was already ill, he was assessed and tested. The result has returned positive.
Consequently, the need to comply with the inter-state movement restriction order and other precautionary measures for the containment of the spread of COVID-19 cannot be overemphasized.
Enugu State inhabitants are therefore still encouraged to continue to comply with the directives of the Federal and Enugu State governments on restriction orders and other precautionary measures in the public health advisory of the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the Enugu State Ministry of Health.
Never be tired in complying with the following: Stay home when it is not necessary to go out. Wear a facemask/covering whenever you must go out. Keep a safe distance from other people at all times, which is social/physical distancing and avoid crowded places. Practice good respiratory hygiene (when coughing or sneezing). Clean surfaces with a 1 in 6 concentration of bleach and water. Wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds under running water as often as possible. And when facilities for hand washing are unavailable, sanitize your hands as often as possible using an alcohol based hand sanitizer
When You do these, you protect me, and when I do these, I protect you.
Stay safe!
Signed Obi Emmanuel Ikechukwu Commissioner for Health, Enugu State.
#Enugu #COVID19 Update: 2 more COVID-19 patients in Enugu test negative, as state records 3 new positive cases with travel history
The Enugu State Ministry of Health wishes to announce that 2 more cases out of the previously active COVID-19 cases undergoing treatment in Enugu State have tested negative and are being assessed for discharge from the isolation and treatment centre.
However, the state has unfortunately received 3 new results of persons who have tested positive for the virus.
This means that Enugu State has had 15 cases in all, with 9 active cases and 6 cases discharged after testing negative.
The two cases that have tested negative are case number 5 and her daughter who is case number 9.
The 3 new positive cases, who entered Enugu State illegally during this ban on inter-state transportation, are as follows:
Case 13 is a 25 year old man from Ondo State who lives in Lagos and made his way first to Akwa Ibom, then to Rivers State and finally to Obollo Afor in Udenu LGA of Enugu State, all within the period of closure of all land boundaries and inter-state movement. He developed symptoms while at Obollo Afor, the health authorities were alerted, he was tested and his result came out positive.
Case 14 is a 38 year old male, from Okpuje in Nsukka LGA, who lives in Nassarawa State, and found his way back to Enugu State during the same period of lockdown.
On suspecting he may have contacted the virus, he initially went into self-quarantine in a hotel at Nsukka. He subsequently developed symptoms and alerted the health authorities. He was tested and his test result also came back positive.
Case 15 is a 28 year old female and a widow who hails from Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area, Enugu State and lives in Lagos State with her husband. She recently lost her husband in Lagos and was able to smuggle her husbands corpse back to Enugu State for burial, despite the lockdown in Lagos State and the national ban on inter-state movement . Her actions raised suspicion and the health authorities were alerted. She was subsequently tested and her result came back positive.
These unfortunate figures are coming up as a result of individuals who have deliberately disobeyed the lockdown order and inter-state transportation as ordered by the Federal and State governments.
In these times, we all need to comply strictly with all measures and regulations and exercise restraint from behaviours that will put others at risk.
The good people of Enugu State are still encouraged to continue to comply with the directives of the Federal and Enugu State governments on containment of the spread of COVID-19 as well as the precautionary measures in the public health advisory of the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, and the Enugu State Ministry of Health.
The best options remain: Stay home when it is not necessary to go out. Wear a facemask/covering whenever you must go out. Keep a safe distance from other people at all times, which is social / physical distancing and avoid crowded places. Practice good respiratory hygiene (when coughing or sneezing) Clean surfaces with a 1 in 6 concentration of bleach and water. Wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds under running water as often as possible And when facilities for hand washing are unavailable, sanitize your hands as often as possible using an alcohol based hand sanitizer
When You do these, you protect me, and when I do these, I protect you.
Stay safe!
Signed Obi Emmanuel Ikechukwu Commissioner for Health, Enugu State.
Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi delivers the first ever Enugu State Customary Court of Appeal Headquarters complex, located within the Three Arms Zone, at the Independence Layout, Enugu, as part of his administration’s giant strides in repositioning the State Judiciary for convenient, efficient and speedy dispensation of justice.
The Enugu State Government, in fulfillment of its plan to give palliatives to all journalists operating in the state, on Saturday, distributed food items to the members of the Radio Television Theatre Art Workers Union (RATTAWU) to cushion the effect of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) on them.
The state government’s package for the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State chapter, was suspended to enable her members harmonize their list before distribution, in the interest of peace and security.
Announcing the suspension, the Deputy Governor, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, who was represented by the Leader of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, said that “we are taking back the share of the NUJ because the principal objective of government is the welfare and security of the people”.
Presenting the palliatives to RATTAWU, on behalf of the Enugu State Government, the Deputy Governor disclosed that the gesture was in line with Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration’s policy of keeping in touch with the people.
Hon. Mrs. Ezeilo, who is also the Chairman of the State Emergency/Palliatives Committee, added that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration has always identified with “the gentlemen of the press”, stressing that “we are not only here to distribute palliatives but also to thank you for the wonderful partnership we have enjoyed towards the development of this great state”.
According to her, “this partnership is working and we believe it will continue to work. This is because if you don’t disseminate what the government is doing, the masses will not know what we are doing. This is especially so at this moment we need to enlighten our people on the precautionary measures and protocol for containment of the spread of COVID-19, as directed and advised by the Federal Government, the Enugu State Government, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the Enugu State Ministry of Health”.
Responding on behalf of members of RATTAWU, the Chairman of the association, Comrade Ndudi Chude, thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi “for this gesture at this auspicious time”.
He also commended the governor and his team for “their dogged fight against this pandemic” and urged them “not to relax on their oars”, pointing out that the food items “will go a very long way to fight another pandemic which is hunger virus”.
Other members of the Emergency/Palliatives Committee present at the event, which held at the NUJ Press Centre, Enugu, include the Chairman, House Committee on Health, Hon. Sam Ngene, his information counterpart, Hon. Jeff Mbah, the Commissioner for Information, Nnanyelugo Chidi Aroh, Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Engr. Mike Ogbuekwe and the State Director, Code of Conduct Bureau, Mrs. Ifeoma Ijetta.
COVID-19: Enugu govt, federal agencies donate palliatives to vulnerable groups through churches
The administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Tertiary Education Trust (TET) Fund, have donated some food items to four major church groups in Enugu State, for onward distribution to their vulnerable and poor members.
The benefiting church groups are the Catholic Dioceses of Enugu, Nsukka and Awgu, the Anglican counterparts of Enugu and Nsukka Communions, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and the Internal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim.
The food items presented include rice, oil, tomato paste, semovita and indomie, among others.
Presenting the items on behalf of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Chairman of the Enugu State Emergency/Palliatives Committee and Deputy Governor of the State, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, said that the relief materials were to cushion the effects of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) lockdown on the people of the state, especially the lowly, vulnerable groups and the poorest of the poor.
Mrs. Ezeilo pointed out that the state government is not unmindful of the untold hardship the people of the state are passing through as a result of the lockdown, stressing that the food items will go a long way to mitigate their plight and enable them stay safe. The Emergency/Palliatives Committee has also distributed part of the food items to security agencies in the state.
According to the Deputy Governor, “His Excellency, our dear Governor is passionate and concerned about the safety, health and wellbeing of the people of this state. Since this COVID-19 lockdown started, he has ensured that the spread of the disease is contained and that the people, most especially, the vulnerable groups, the poorest of the poor in our society are assisted with food items and other palliatives.
“Today, we are distributing these food items to poor and vulnerable members in our churches through their women associations to cushion the effects of this pandemic in their lives”.
In their separate responses, the National President of Catholic Women Organization, Mrs. Nwanneka Okolo, the Wife of Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province (Anglican Communion), Mrs. Joyce Chukwuma, the representative of the PFN, Rev. Mrs. Ndidi Egbo and that of the Cherubim and Seraphim, Apostle Kingsley Nwachukwu, thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration and the federal agencies for their benevolence and promised to deliver the items to the targeted people in their various churches.
Other members of the committee at the event include the Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi, the Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, the Chairman, House Committee on Health, Hon. Sam Ngene and his Information counterpart, Hon. Jeff Mbah.
Also present were the Commissioner for Information, Nnanyelugo Chidi Aroh, Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social Development, Rt. Hon. Princess Peace Nnaji, Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Matthew Idu, Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Adaonah Kene-Uyanwune, her Special Duties counterpart, Mrs. Mabel Agbo, Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Engr. Mike Ogbuekwe and the Executive Secretary of Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mrs. Nkechi Eneh, among others.
To forestall likely casualty from the imminent collapse of the headquarters of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement in Enugu, which structures built on waterway have been ravaged by flood, the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA) has sealed the church premises.
Speaking on the development, the Executive Chairman of ECTDA, Dr. Josef Umunnakwe Onoh, explained that the decision to seal the church was to save lives and property, avert recurrence of building collapse in the state and ensure that appropriate measures are taken immediately to remedy the dangerous situation in the church.
Dr. Onoh therefore disclosed that his agency has directed the leadership of the church to immediately liaise with the state chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) to reassess the level of damage done by the flood and recommend appropriate engineering measures to be applied to fortify the church for public safety and reclaim the wrecked structures in the church’s premises.
There has been a public outcry, especially from residents living at the bank of Ekulu River, G.R.A, adjacent to The Lord’s Chosen Church, over the imminent danger posed by the worship centre, which was built on the waterway, on their property.
The ECTDA had served “Stop-work” and “Remove” notices on the ongoing construction work at the premises of the church, which were ignored completely until the recent havoc that wrecked the foundation of the church building to the point of imminent collapse.
Only recently, a three-storey building under construction at Ezeluike Street, Olympic Layout, off One Day, Agbani Road, Awkunanaw, Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State, which was marked “Stop-work” by ECTDA collapsed after the contractor neglected government's order and continued work on the property.
Reacting, the ECTDA Executive Chairman, announced that “a technical team from ECTDA and the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Enugu State branch, will commence immediate evaluation of the structural integrity and stability of all buildings within the State Capital Territory”.
He expressed concern over the spate of construction works on the waterway and without building approvals and their imminent dangers and appealed to residents to always adhere strictly to rules and regulations guiding structural development in the state, in order to save lives and avert damage to property.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, wednesday addressed residents of the state on confirmed positive cases of COVID-19, disclosing that all the eleven cases are people who entered the state illegally despite the presidential order on restriction of interstate movement and the state government’s closure of all boundaries and interstate transportation.
Ugwuanyi further disclosed that the 11th confirmed positive case, announced by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on May 12, 2020, was a 40-year- old male who had been in Kano since April 2020 and came back to Enugu on May 4, 2020.
The governor declared that “it has become imperative that we all take responsibility to protect our dear state from the illegal influx of people into the state”.
He therefore asked all those charged with the responsibility of protecting all land boundaries in the state “to put more efforts to ensure that our boundaries are properly secured to curb this unfortunate importation of the COVID-19 into the state”.
Ugwuanyi urged the people of the state to continue to abide by the protocol of the NCDC, including the mandatory use of face masks/ covering in public, maintaining social/physical distancing and high level of personal and respiratory hygiene.
He reassured the people that his administration will continue to do all within its powers to effectively contain the spread of the pandemic in the state.
According to the governor, “on March 28, 2020, Enugu State had its index positive case, a couple from Isi-Uzo Local Government Area who then just returned from the United Kingdom and Dubai. Both have been successfully treated and discharged.
“One month after the index positive cases was confirmed, on the 28th of April 2020, Enugu State had its third confirmed positive case, a female indigene of Bauchi State with a history of travel to Bauchi and Plateau states.
“On the 1st of May, 2020, Enugu State had its 4th confirmed positive case, a female indigene of Umuchigbo in Enugu East Local Government Area who together with her nine-year old daughter returned to Enugu from Lagos State where they reside after falling ill
“On the 2nd of May 2020, Enugu State had its 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th confirmed positive cases, all of whom are close contacts of the 3rd confirmed positive case and who travelled with the 3rd confirmed positive case to Bauchi and Plateau states.
A new confirmed case of COVID-19 in Enugu State has emerged.
This means 12 cases have tested positive in Enugu State, 2 have been discharged and now 10 are currently positive and on treatment.
This new case is from Ebonyi State who is married and living in Enugu. She had been in Kano for the past two months and then returned on the 4th of May 2020.
Her sample was taken as the State Ministry of Health was alerted about her and the result came out on the 12th of May.
Thus far all cases reported in Enugu State have had positive travel history.
All efforts to stem the influx of persons who are not on essential services through our borders are welcome and encouraged.
The Enugu State Ministry of Health continues to recommend to the good people of Enugu State, the following: 1. Stay at home as much as you can. 2. Use a clean cloth mask daily if you have to go out 3. Do not touch the front of the mask while wearing it 4. Remove your mask only from both ears at the same time 5. Wash your cloth mask, dry and iron it everyday 8. Maintain respiratory hygiene when you have to cough or sneeze 9. Maintain social/physical distancing always 10. Wash your hands as often as you can with soap and running water 11. When you can't wash your hands use an alcohol based hand sanitizer frequently Call these numbers if you think you may have or know someone who may have Covid-19 symptoms, 08182555550 or 09022333833, or the NCDC number 080097000010
If I do these, I protect you and if you do these, you protect me. Stay Safe!
Enugu Church Building's Collapse Imminent As Flood Wreaks Havoc (Photos)
After ignoring the "Stop-work"/ “Remove” orders by the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA), structures on the premises of The Lord's Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement's headquarters in Enugu, have been badly damaged by flood, exposing the church building to imminent collapse, Igbere TV reports.
Igbere TV had reported that a section of Enugu residents living at the bank of Ekulu River, G.R.A, adjacent to the church, had raised the alarm over the imminent danger posed by the worship centre, which was built on the waterway on their property.
Inscriptions on the ongoing construction work at the church’s premises, show that the ECTDA had served “Stop-work” / “Remove” notices on the structures, but was completely ignored until the recent havoc which has wrecked the foundation of the church building.
Some residents of the neighborhood had lampooned those criticizing recent activities of the ECTDC, especially on social media, aimed at sanitizing and restoring Enugu City to its original master-plan. They noted that one of the grave consequences of such mischief against the development control agency is what the state is experiencing at the moment at The Lord’s Chosen worship centre in Enugu.
Igbere TV recalls that a three-story building under construction at Ezeluike Street, Olympic Layout, off One Day, Agbani Road, Awkunanaw, Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State, which was marked “Stop-work” by ECTDA recently collapsed after the contractor neglected government's order and continued work on the property.
The residents therefore charged the state government to enforce discipline and deal decisively with the alarming rate of illegal structures on waterways in the state, without fear or favour, in order to save lives and avert avoidable damage of people’s property by flood.
Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State defies rain to enforce the Presidential directive on 8pm - 6am nationwide curfew in the state. All for the safety, health and wellbeing of 'Ndi Enugu'.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at Enugu-Ebonyi boundary, in continuation of his monitoring of compliance with the state government's closure of all land boundaries and inter-state transportation as well as the Presidential directive on nationwide curfew, to contain the spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
"Two newly confirmed COVID-19 positive cases in Ebonyi State do not live in Enugu State" - ENSG
*Says the patients deliberately misinformed Ebonyi health authorities
Following the announcement that two newly confirmed COVID-19 positive cases in Ebonyi State involved a couple who travelled to the State from Oji River Local Government Area in Enugu State, where the man purportedly deals in phone accessories, the Enugu State Ministry of Health COVID-19 Rapid Response Team immediately moved to investigate and identify their contacts in Oji River LGA for follow up.
The team however could neither find any proof that this couple lived in Oji River LGA of Enugu State nor could any 'contact' be traced.
Further communication with the Health authorities in Ebonyi State revealed that this couple intentionally deceived the medical team on duty by saying they were coming from Oji River LGA in Enugu State, in order to hide the fact that they were on a trip from Lagos State, in an attempt to evade being quarantined.
The Enugu State Ministry of Health appeals to the good people of the State to remain calm and continue to abide by the preventive measures as directed by the Federal Government, Federal Ministry of Health, the NCDC and Enugu State Government.
The steps you must take for yourself are the following:
• Stay home and only go out when absolutely necessary
• If you must go out, wear a face mask
• Practice physical/social distancing protocol
• Exercise proper respiratory hygiene
• Wash your hands as often as possible with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds or
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when there is no facility to wash your hands
• Sanitize surfaces all around you as often as possible with a 1in6 mixture of bleach and water
• If you think you are ill with COVID-19 symptoms or know someone with COVID-19 symptoms, just call these numbers 08182555550 or 09022333833 or the NCDC number 080097000010.
If I do these, I protect you, if you do these you protect me!
Stay Safe!
Signed Obi Emmanuel Ikechukwu Hon. Commissioner, Health Enugu State
..Charges media to embrace accurate reporting on measures against COVID-19
The Chairman of the Christian Council of Nigeria, Enugu State chapter, Archbishop Barr. Christopher Ede, has stated that he did not announce that ban on religious activities have been lifted in Enugu State, as is being erroneously peddled in the media.
Speaking through his media aide, Rev. Kene Ugwu, over a report credited to him to the effect that Enugu State has lifted the ban on religious activities, Archbishop Ede, wondered how "a state that still bans all religious activities throughout the days of the week both for the churches and mosques can be said to lift ban on religious activities" .
The cleric clarified that he only sent a memo to CCN member churches to continue to abide by the rules and regulations of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) on social distancing protocol and other precautionary measures, "as they seek room for intercession to God to help the nation in the war against the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) beginning from Sunday, May10, 2020" .
He added that it was not his duty to announce the lifting of ban on religious activities in the state .
"As leader of the CCN in the state my duty is to continue to encourage the faithful to guard themselves against whatever will heighten the spread of the virus", he said.
Consequently, the Archbishop called on the media to embrace accurate and objective reporting in order to help win the war against the virus.
According to him, "inaccurate reporting is capable of misleading the public into actions that could make the war against the virus more difficult or spreading fear in the minds of the public".
He therefore prayed for God's intervention in the fight against the pandemic.
ANOTHER NEW CONTACT IS CONFIRMED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 IN ENUGU STATE
There is another newly confirmed positive case of COVID-19 in Enugu State.
This case happens to be another contact of the third case reported in Enugu who had positive travel history from outside Enugu.
Thus the total number of cases ever reported in Enugu now rises to Ten (10) with eight ( active cases.
The patient has also been admitted for Isolation and Treatment.
• Stay home and only go out when absolutely necessary
• If you must go out, wear a mask
• Practice physical/social distancing
• Exercise proper respiratory hygiene
• Wash your hands as often as possible with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds or
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when there is no facility to wash your hands
• Sanitize surfaces all around you as often as possible with a 1in6 mixture of bleach and water
• If you think you are ill with COVID 19 symptoms or know someone with COVID 19 symptoms, call the numbers 08182555550 or 09022333833 or the NCDC number 080097000010.
If I do these, I protect you, if you do these you protect me!
Stay Safe!
Signed Obi Emmanuel Ikechukwu Hon. Commissioner for Health, Enugu State
Further clarification on the just announced COVID-19 case in Enugu
The recent positive case just announced in Enugu State, is for benefit of any doubt, the son of the woman reported as the third confirmed case in Enugu State.
These positive cases are related by the journey they had made to Jos as had earlier been reported. The surveillance team of the State Ministry of Health had experienced some difficulty reaching this particular young man who had been in denial and had earlier resisted being tested.
Ndi Enugu are assured that the latest cases reported for Enugu are people who had travelled and returned to Enugu.
Signed:
Obi Emmanuel Ikechukwu Hon. commissioner for Health, Enugu State.
Determined to ensure strict compliance with the state government’s closure of all land boundaries and inter-state transportation as well as the Presidential directive on curfew across the country, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, this evening, visited the Enugu-Abia boundary, along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, where he charged the security agencies on duty, the Awgu Local Government Council Chairman, Hon. Pedro Nwankwo and his security team to enforce total restrictions, in the overall public interest.
Following the tension caused by the alleged infiltration of almajiri into the South East geo-political zone, security has been tightened at the boundaries of Enugu State with the northern states.
Consequently, more vehicles violating the inter-state transportation ban and the presidential directive on curfew at the Enugu-Benue and Enugu-Kogi boundaries and within the councils have been intercepted.
While the vehicles with passengers trying to enter Enugu from the northern part of the country were turned back, those attempting to travel out of the state were impounded at the various police stations in the area.
Yesterday, a luxury bus with passengers from the northern part of the country was reported to have been intercepted at Nsukka town by some vigilant youths with the assistance of the military and was consequently escorted out of the state through the Enugu-Benue boundary from where it entered the state.
Confirming the interception of the violators of the restriction order, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Udenu Police Division, Philip Nwazi, disclosed that some of the violating vehicles were intercepted and impounded in the council between 11pm on Tuesday and 3am on Wednesday.
“On Wednesday, a luxury bus with almajiri as passengers from one of the states in the North was reported to have been intercepted at Nsukka town by some vigilant youths with the assistance of the military and was consequently escorted out of the state through the Enugu-Benue boundary from where it entered the state.
“The result-oriented efforts at the state boundaries were made possible by the joint efforts of the security agencies, council chairmen, youths and Neighbourhood watch groups in Udenu, Igbo-Eze North and Nsukka local governments,” he said.
Nwazi also disclosed that, through joint efforts, some of the vehicles were intercepted at the land boundaries while others emerged from the forests to beat the restriction order but were promptly turned back to where they were coming from to serve as deterrent to those who plan to violate government’s directives on lockdown.
Confirming the developments at the boundary areas, Udenu council Chairman, Solomon Onah, assured that his council was fully mobilised and working round the clock to ensure the Enugu State government’s directives on lockdown and that of the presidency were effectively carried out.
His colleagues at Igbo-Eze North and Nsukka, Ejike Itodo and Patrick Omeje respectively, also confirmed that violating vehicles and passengers were intercepted, impounded and turned back to serve as deterrent to others.
Enugu COVID-19 lockdown: More violating vehicles with passengers intercepted, turned back as deterrent to others
As State Police Command releases emergency phone lines
Through joint efforts of the security agencies, Council Chairmen, youths and Neighborhood Watch Groups in Udenu, Igbo-Eze North and Nsukka Local Government Areas, more vehicles violating the inter-state transportation ban and the Presidential directive on curfew at the Enugu-Benue and Enugu-Kogi boundaries and within the council areas, have been intercepted.
The intercepted vehicles with passengers coming into Enugu State, mostly from the Northern part of the country, were turned back while those attempting to travel out of the state were impounded at the police stations.
Speaking on the development, the new Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Udenu LGA, SP Philip Nwazi, disclosed that some of the violating vehicles were intercepted and impounded in the council area between the hours of 11pm on Tuesday and 3am on Wednesday.
The DPO further disclosed that, through joint efforts, some of the vehicles were intercepted at the land boundaries while others emerged from the forests in an attempt to beat the restriction order, adding that they were turned back to where they were coming from to serve as deterrent to those who plan to violate governments’ directives on lockdown.
The Udenu Council Chairman, Hon. Solomon Onah, confirmed the incidents, maintaining that the council is fully mobilized and working round the clock to ensure that the Enugu State Government’s directives on lockdown and that of the Presidency were effectively carried out.
On their part, the Council Chairmen of Igbo-Eze North and Nsukka LGAs, Hon. Ejike Itodo and Hon. Patrick Omeje respectively, also confirmed that offending vehicles and passengers were intercepted, impounded and turned back to serve as deterrent to those who may want to traverse Enugu State, in violation of the restriction order.
Yesterday, a luxury bus with passengers from the Northern part of the country was reported to have been intercepted at Nsukka town by some vigilant youths in the area with the assistance of the military and was consequently escorted out of the state through the Enugu-Benue boundary from where it entered the state.
Similar enforcement operations are going on in other land boundaries in the state, such as the Enugu-Abia boundary, along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, where vehicles with passengers were intercepted and turned back accordingly.
In an interaction with the Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Command, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, he requested the public to always contact the command’s emergency numbers in the case of any report and complaint, as follows: 08032003702, 08075390883, 08086671202, 08098880172, assuring that he “will always do my best from here”.
The closed-door meeting between Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and religious leaders in the state, held at the Government House Enugu, on Wednesday, ended successfully, with the leaders of the churches urging residents to continue to abide by the rules and regulations of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) as well as all other precautionary measures aimed at containing the spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
Addressing newsmen at the Government House, shortly after the meeting, the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, who spoke on behalf of other church leaders, said that the meeting was successful and “we made promise to the government to carry out these instructions and to let our own flock follow suit”.
Bishop Onaga disclosed that “the details of the meeting shall be unfolded to our different churches”.
The bishop, who called for intense prayers for God to cure and end the disease, said: “God, who created us, wants us to live; he solves our needs and will surely see that all efforts by governments in making sure that this disease does not spread and eventually go are successful”.
His words: “Prayer is important and that is why we are there. So we are all determined to win this war and to all go down in prayers. God knows how this very disease came in and all of us should pray with our own human efforts for its end.
“We implore everybody to obey the rules and regulations of NCDC.”
In his remark, the Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma maintained that the meeting was “successful and amicable”.
On his part, the Chief Imam, Enugu State, Imam Zurqallaini Saeed, stated that the Muslim community in the state concurs with the outcome of the meeting, saying: “All of us are in agreement with what my brother (Bishop Onaga) just said”.
Other church leaders at the meeting include, the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Most Rev. Prof. Godfrey Igwebuike Onah, Anglican Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Most Rev. Aloysius Agbo, Bishop Amos Madu of Oji River Diocese (Anglican Communion), the State Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rt. Rev. Christian Obiefuna, Archbishop of Enugu Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Rev. Barr. Christopher Ede, Chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Dr. Godwin Madu, CAN State Secretary, Apostle Dr. Joseph Ajujungwa, among others.
Health › Five COVID-19 Patients In Enugu State Discharged, One New Case Reported by OEPHIUS(op): 5:16am On May 30, 2020
active cases.