Following the index case, rise and denial of COVID-19 presence in the gas capital of Nigeria, Bonny, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike is currently meeting with a high powered delegation led by the traditional ruler of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, CON, Perekule XI, at Government House, Port Harcourt.
According to a highly placed source, who prefers anonymity, the main aim of the behind-closed-doors meeting, which is at the instance of the Governor, is to fashion out control measures against the coronavirus pandemic that had been recorded and said to be spreading rapidly in Bonny Island, headquarters of Bonny LGA.
Key stakeholders who are attending the meeting include the Commissioner for Local Governments, Rodaford Longjohn, Bonny Local Government Chairman, David Irimagha, Chairman, Bonny Council of Chiefs (BCC), Chief Dagogo Claude-Wilcox, President of Bonny Titled Citizens Assembly and pioneer Director General of Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, and the Woman Leader of Bonny Kingdom, Helen Jack-Wilson Pepple, amongst other key players.
Participants are said to be brainstorming with the Governor on the strategic approaches for containing the community spread of the virus in the area, given their crucial roles along the lines of mass mobilization, strategic contact with the people, and critical service delivery.
Recall that Wike, had on June 9, 2020, in a meeting with oil major operating in Bonny LGA, disclosed that on the issue of denial against the prevalence of COVID-19 pervading the Island, there would be an engagement with the traditional institution and community development committees to enlighten their people on the reality of the pandemic.
Today’s meeting is the fulfilment of this declaration by Governor Wike, who is famed for giving life to his promised actions.
Kristina Report projects that fallouts of the meeting may include a possible total lockdown of Bonny Local Government Area, reinforced campaign strategy against the virus, query of erring health officials or organizations, revised advisory on the pandemic peculiar to Bonny LGA, the release of bailout funds to the LGA, and the setting up of a special state government committee to focus on Bonny LGA.
Whatever the case maybe, it is hoped that the pandemic incident in Bonny will be nipped in the bud, especially, as the NLNG Train 7 project begins to take full motion, and the all-important consequential need for tranquility on the Island of Bonny.
Total lockdown is not the solution as economic will also be lockdown.Government should organize house to house test, increase testing at all entery point into Bonny,while paying huge attention on the major multi national on the island as they are the major importers of workers from highly concentrated areas of COVIC 19 cases.
Please we should let his Excellency the Governor to know that it is not covid 19 that is killing people in Bonny, but the gas that was released by NLNG some weeks back and to also let him know that NLNG have compensate her staff. If they are saying that the course of the death in Bonny is Covid 19, we still have some bead bodies in the mortuary, the can be tested if it is covid 19 that kill them. Sowari M. Hart.