Akwa Ibom tasks navy on improved patrol of waterways

The Akwa Ibom State government has called on the Nigerian Navy to intensify patrol along the Atlantic shoreline to contain the COVID-19 challenge in the area.The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic

Ukpong, who briefed newsmen yesterday on developments in Uyo, said the call was one of the measures to check the influx of foreigners and reduce the chances of Coronavirus infection in the state.

He added that all council chairmen had been directed to set up emergency response task forces to monitor the preventive measures put in place regarding the gatherings of not more than 10 persons at a time.

The meetings, according to the commissioner, include churches, marriages and funerals.Ukpong said: “We call on the Nigerian Navy to heighten their patrol of our shorelines, which are under their jurisdiction, to check the influx of foreigners into the state and reduce the chances of infected persons gaining illegal entry into the state.

“We have directed the chairmen of all local government areas to set up emergency response task force (s) to monitor and promptly report suspected cases.

“Despite the surveillance, prevention and infection control measures being put in place, we are monitoring the situation with respect to social gatherings and relying more on preventive measures to curtail the onslaught of the virus.”