Plateau lawmaker challenge Governor Lalong on lockdown, says people are hungry 

Plateau Governor, Lalong

By Raymond Gukas, Jos

As Plateau State Government announced a 5-day total lockdown to enable it fumigate the state against the COVID-19 pandemic, a lawmaker in the state, Gwottson Dalyop Fom has challenged the government to provide details of the exercise.

The Member representing Jos South State Constituency, who commended the governor for the initiative, stressed that their are unanswered questions the government must respond to for the genuineness of the exercise.

According to him,  “We will like to know how eminent the threat was and how the proposed fumigation will address the danger posed to the populace?”

He emphasized the need for the people “to know what areas will be subject to the fumigation. It is necessary to know which parts will be affected directly so as to better prepare citizens who are going to be affected” especially now that the rain has set in.

“How much has been approved for the exercise and who or which body made the approval? Was the Plateau State House of Assembly involved in the approval of a supplementary budget approval or did the money come from another source that the Plateau people should be informed about,” the lawmaker asked in an open letter to the governor.

Also, he wanted to  know if the government “fully considered what the Coronavirus situation will portend and how it will affect the Plateau people especially the poorest of the poor amongst us? If so what palliative measures have been put in place to alleviate their sufferings?”

Gwottson further reminded the governor that “Plateau people have great need of food at this time. While we say God forbid it, we must also be realistic and prepare. We need to have an isolation/treatment center with equipments and medication to cater to any cases that may be confirmed in the coming days.

“Accounts of funds used during this pandemic must be rendered to the citizenry periodically. We all need to be on the same page and by the grace of God we will beat this pandemic”, he stressed.