The Government of Oyo State on Tuesday, warned residents to continue to strictly observe the COVID-19 safety protocols, as it declared that the virus is still very much around.

An advisory by the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), of the State, warned that COVID-19 “is still very much around with us”, adding that residents of the State must strictly adhere to safety protocols, even during the Yuletide.

The advisory indicated that Oyo residents should, at the period, follow the direction of the state-sponsored advocacy on COVID-19, #Own Your Action, noting that responsible living and strict adherence to the guidelines would help the State to curtail the spread of the disease during the festive period.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the advisory by the EOC equally commended residents of the State for the efforts made so far in complying with the COVID-19 prevention measures in the State.

The statement reads, “The state government salutes the resilience and fortitude with which members of the public have carried themselves in spite of all the challenges faced in the year 2020. We believe as the year comes to an end, and another year is on the horizon, the hopes and aspirations of the citizens of the State will be actualised.”

“With this, it is expected that as responsible citizens of our dear State, we will continue to comply with the COVID-19 prevention measures in public places, especially offices, shopping malls and outlets, schools, recreation centres and any location outside the homes,”.

The statement warned that in light of the end of year activities and forthcoming festivities, visitors and residents of the State would have to be responsible in organising social events, noting that all events must be organised in compliance with COVID-19 guidelines.

It implored visitors and residents of the State to be wise and responsible in attending and organising social events, in compliance with the State COVID-19 advisories, as the reality of end of year social activities, which involves traveling into and within the State, would soon commence with the festivities.
The statement read, “Religious and community leaders, organisers of end of year programmes, including children parties and concerts, as well as owners of recreational facilities, are to remember that the pandemic is ongoing, and to ensure the orderly conduct of their activities to prevent widespread infections in the State.”

The government promised to continue to work assiduously to deliver on its promises to the citizens, noting, however, that residents should “share the joy and not the virus” at the period, while wishing all residents happy celebrations.

By Olubunmi Osoteku, Ibadan

By Hudu Yakubu, Abuja 

The Minister of State in the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has expressed the commitment of the FCT Administration to reduce multi-dimensional poverty levels and achieve set targets in water, sanitation and hygiene.  

The minister gave this commitment during the official inauguration of Abaji Water Treatment Plant in Abaji Area Council of the FCT. 

Attaining SDGs
The Minister also stated that the project would no doubt assist to improve the health and economic condition of the benefiting communities, and take the FCT a step closer to advancing the cause of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) attainment.  

Aliyu also revealed that the administration has initiated actions to achieve the targets of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WSH) and to achieve Open Defecation Free (ODF) status across the FCT in line with the Executive Order number 9.  

“We are indeed committed to meeting the ODF target before the nationally set date of 2025 and universal access to water and sanitation by the SDG target of 2030. Already, we have developed an SDG action plan for the FCT and have aligned the 17 SDGs with our ministerial deliverables and applicable Presidential Directives and Executive Orders. Our 2021 budget priorities have been dictated by the need to meet these objectives,” she said.  

The minister, however, assured other communities that are yet to benefit, that the administration was working to ensure that water is provided for them to improve their wellbeing, noting that the project has the capacity to serve more than one million people, and expressed the hope that it would help the communities to adequately meet their water and sanitation needs.  

Protection of facilities by the community
Aliyu charged the beneficiary communities to demonstrate genuine appreciation for the project, by protecting the facilities from vandalization, while tasking them to ensure that the taps and water kiosks are turned off when not in use, and to avoid wastage.    

The minister affirmed that in order to ensure sustainability and uninterrupted water supply to the communities, the project facilities need to be serviced and maintained regularly and considering the economic realities and subsisting competing needs, the FCT Administration shall continue to leverage on partnerships such as the one with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President (OSSAP) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), that delivered this project, to deepen and extend service delivery.  

“The Administration shall also be counting on beneficiaries’ willingness to contribute their quota to the sustenance of quality service delivery through the introduction of metering for token water rate payments”, she added.

Challenges of expanding infrastructure in FCT
Earlier, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, noted that the administration has been grappling with the challenge of expanding infrastructure to the teeming population of Abuja, stressing that the inauguration of the treatment plant was to mitigate one of the challenges posed by inadequate infrastructure.  

 Adesola further noted that the inauguration of the water treatment plant was a testament of the administration’s commitment to improving the welfare and general wellbeing of the people in the FCT in line with the SDG mantra: “leave no one behind”.  

The project comprises the construction of raw water intake structure, flocculation of  bad sedimentation tank, a filter unit, a clean water tank, high lift pump station, chemical building and dosing system, a service reservoir and transmission and distribution network pipelines.  

Nneka Ukachukwu