The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in partnership with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has commenced door-to-door sensitisation in 19 states across the country.
Director-General of NOA, Dr Garba Abari, who disclosed while addressing journalist at the press conference in Abuja, said the sensitisation campaign is a measure to stop the spread of COVID-19.
The 19 states which include, Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Kwara, Enugu, Katsina, Kaduna, Ekiti, Delta, Edo, Benue, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Oyo, Bauchi, Rivers, Ondo and the FCT.
Dr Abari said, “the present collaboration is born of the fact that several observations are being made to the effect that some security personnel are compromising the COVID-19 ban on interstate travels and the curfew by collecting gratification and allowing free passage of unauthorised persons.
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“The present collaboration between NOA and ICPC will set up surveillance to ensure that those who indulge in these acts are apprehended and brought to book.
“The COVID-19 pandemic took the world by surprise, it was not anticipated and therefore was not factored into any nation’s plan for 2020,” he said.
As part of preventive measures, the NOA boss urged Nigerians to wash hands regularly, use face masks while in public, maintenance of 2 meters distance from other people, refrain from handshakes, abstain from gatherings of more than 20 persons and not go outdoors unless absolutely necessary.
In his address, Chairman of ICPC, Professor Bolaji Owasonye, who was represented by Secretary to the Commission, Professor Musa Usman Abubakar, said the commission was into monitoring the COVID-19 palliative in collaboration with CSO.
“Sometimes back, we received various reports that some people are diverting or maybe give 50% of what is meant for individuals, maybe someone is supposed to be given 20,000 Naira is given maybe 10,000 Naira.
“We are all aware of this and our commission has observers in various communities particularly well we have our officers to deal with such infractions,” he said.
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