C'River: Coalition of CSO against COVID-19 urges taskforce to step-up efforts on land borders

The Coalition of Civil Society Groups Against COVID-19 in Cross River State have urged enforcement officers mounting various land borders in the state to step up their efforts to ensure that migrants are not putting the state at risk.

The call was contained in a communique issued at the end of a joint meeting of 13 civil society organisations working in the state and signed by the Convener, Gabriel Adams.

The Coalition lauded various initiatives of the state government like the no-mask, no-movement, sensitisation exercise amongst others in containing the spread of the pandemic.

While commending the government on its effort to set up 100 bed capacity isolation centre in the Tinapa Business Resort, they however appealed that the state-own Isolation center certified by NCDC should cover the three senatorial district of the State. 

"The COALITION of Civil Society against COVID-19 expressed her gratitude to the government of Cross River State and other relevant stakeholders as well as the Presidential Task Force against COVID-19 for the proactive steps taken so far. We commend the government for early deployment of facilities such as personnel, Security operatives, provision of logistics for easy movement and the state boarder closure", the communique reads in part. 

The CSOs added that  "the State task team should step up measures on our land boarders to ensure migrant are not using the route to put the state at risk of the virus especially communities such as the Oban corridor of cross river national park, Bakassi, Itu-Bridge, Boki, Etung, Ikom, Bekwara, Obudu etc are well monitored by credible security operative with support of civil society organizations.

That the palliative distribution of food items which has been widely condemned as insufficient as well as its channel of distribution should accommodate members of civil society organization with verifiable data of vulnerable population.

That the government free mask distribution process should be centralized for easy access by members of the public other than compulsory going to the garment factory.

That civil society organization should be involved in the COVID-19 State Task Team for accountability purpose. 

That persons living with disability should be adequately captured in the state response programming such provision should include a sign language translator during each state briefing as obtained in other states broadcast.

That civil society organization should be involved in the state press briefing as observers. 

While we continue to remain law abiding citizens and work toward keeping Cross River COVID-19 free, we shall continue to support the government through monitoring and evaluation of its programmes especially in the face of global health challenge".