Groups canvass house-to-house scientific data collection in Cross River

– Ayade threatens to default clerics over large gatherings

Amid fear of the rising cases of coronavirus in the country, some groups in Cross River State have canvassed door-to-door scientific data collection to ensure that the virus does not spread to and escalate in the state.

So far, Cross River is one of the few states in the country without CONVID-19 and one of the groups, Greater Cross River Initiative, through its Coordinator, Tessy Nuela Anyin, at a media briefing in Calabar, commended the Ben Akak Foundation for its humanitarian gesture and called on the state government to ensure robust collaboration between the state government and the foundation.

Its Executive Director, Ben Akak, said, “This to enable the foundation to do more for the people, we suggest a door-to-door check on citizens of the state to obtain a comprehensive data of those coming in to avoid the unforeseen.”

For now, the groups said the state does not have statistics of residents, those coming in or going out and given the rapid spread of the virus, Anyin said the time to get such data was now as it would help to fight the pandemic and also help in the distribution of palliatives to the people.

The groups commended Governor Ben Ayade for the efforts so far made to fight the disease with compulsory wearing of face masks and ensuring a lockdown of the state’s borders.

They applauded the Ben Akak Foundation that has donated palliatives to state government, the Nigerian Navy, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), the Palace of the Obong of Calabar, Traditional Rulers Council, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), communities and other groups to cushion the effects of the economic hardship caused by the spread of Covid-19 into Nigeria.

The groups also urged other good-spirited people of Cross River State in and outside the state to give their financial support to the people at this difficult period.

Similarly, the former Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Mr. Goddie Akpama, who endorsed the door-to-door scientific collection of data in the state asked wealthy individuals, especially the politicians to contribute financially and otherwise to assist the state fight and ensure the state does not record any case of the pandemic.

However, during a media briefing by the Commissioner for Health, Dr, Betta Edu, the state government appealed to the Federal Government for assistance to enable have a test centre and more isolation centres in the state.

Meanwhile, Governor Ayade has ordered the arrest of religious leaders who flout the directives on large gathering and social distancing, saying some churches were violating the ban on large gatherings by conducting services in the early hours to avoid being noticed.

Ayade gave the order in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Christian Ita, adding that such a persons would be arrested and prosecuted, while their Churches would be sealed.