A non-governmental organization, Challenged Parenthood Initiative (CPI), has called on Kogi state government and well meaning Kogites to employ proactive approach in containing the novel Coronavirus in the state.
In a statement issued by the Executive Director, Eunice Abimbola Agbogun in Lokoja on Monday, CPI said the fact that the state is bordered by 10 other states and is the main gateway to the North of Nigeria for people from the South, West and East makes Kogi citizens prone and vulnerable to the dreaded COVID-19.
CPI observed that despite the ‘Stay at Home’ directive and closure of entry route to the state by the Kogi government there still exist vehicular movements from other states into and within Kogi State.
“We also observed that there still exist tricycle and motorcycle movement convey people from one location to another within the state. Against the ban of all forms of social and religious gathering, CPI observed that there still exist gathering in some Churches, Mosques and beer joints in the state, thus negating the social distancing precaution to containing spread of this virus.
“We use this opportunity to call on Kogi citizens to be law abiding. We should not be deceived that COVID-19 is not real. The virus is here and it is spreading. Support the government’s effort in containing the spread by observing all precautionary measures and the directives and available guidelines of the state government to keep Kogi free of the virus.
“While available statistic in Nigeria shows that there is no confirmed case of Corona Virus in Kogi State as at the time of this press release, we believe that government’s proactive approach and citizens’ observing all precautionary measures will go a long way to keeping Kogi State free from spreading Corona Virus.
“With the growing number of cases now 111 in 12 States, according to the latest update from NCDC and the Ministry of Health in Nigeria, we call on Kogi State Government to wake up to the reality of the growing spread of this virus by ensuring all standard practices are observed to the latter.
“We call on Kogi State Government to wake up to its responsibility by enforcing the guidelines issued as measure to containing the spread of the virus into Kogi State. It is not enough to issue a statement, there should be corresponding response and action to ensure Kogi State remains free from the virus.
“As civil society organization, our cooperate responsibility demands we remain on the lookout for pressing needs and addressing them accordingly. In view of this, CPI is planning an outreach to identified vulnerable and not well to do families, orphans, widows and widowers in the state by providing some relief materials so as to ameliorate there suffering at this time of economic downturn.
“We call on the state government, Civil Society Organizations, and all well-meaning Kogites to be supportive, proactive and sensitive to the call to serve humanity specially at this critical time,” the statement read.
CPI is a non-governmental and non-partisan organization with special interest in social development through promotion of good governance and women’s rights.
