The Abia State Government has read the riot act to leaders of the northern communities in the state, advising them to warn their members against hosting their kinsmen from outside the state until the COVID-19 pandemic is over.
Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on COVID-19 and Secretary to the State Government (SSG ), Barr Chris Ezem issued the warning on Thursday.
Ezem spoke at the Government House in Umuahia when members of the committee hosted leaders of the northern communities in the state.
He said any further report of northern youths sneaking into Abia through trucks conveying livestock or cement would lead to the state government closing livestock markets in the state.
“We are worried that despite repeated warnings, we continue to receive reports of northern youths stowed away in cattle and Dangote cement trucks bound for our state and other neighboring states.
“That is unacceptable to us and must stop forthwith. We strongly view these acts as sabotage against the war on COVID-19 which we have invested a lot of state resources on.
“If things don’t change quickly, we will start with a 2-week ban on trucks bringing cows into our state.
“There are also reports that your members are not abiding by our COVID-19 regulations on compulsory wearing of face masks, social distancing, provision of materials for hand washing as well as directives on operation time for markets in the state.
“That must stop now or we will take drastic measures, within the law, to protect all citizens and residents of the state,” the Abia SSG warned.
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