INTER-STATE MOVEMENT BAN: ARCHBISHOP CHUKWUMA FROWNS AT INFLUX OF PEOPLE INTO THE SOUTH EAST
The Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, the Most Reverend Emmanuel Chukwuma, has blamed security operatives manning the inter state borders in the south east zone for the illegal movement of people from the North to the zone.
Arch Bishop Chukwuma maintained that such sumggling of human beings in the night, even with the Presidential Directive banning inter-state movement was of great danger to the zone.
The Most Reverend Chukwuma, who stated this while responding to questions from journalists in Enugu, said the suspicion became expedient following influx of unauthorized faces into the South East region.
Archbishop Chukwuma, who is also the Bishop of Enugu Diocese, said he was disappointed with what he described as the ongoing efforts by some desperate elements in Nigeria to cause disharmony among the various segments of the country.
He called on the Governors of the Southeast Zone to rise to the responsibility and tighten up security across the borders to check the worrisome situation and check the spread of coronavirus disease within their jurisdiction.
The Most Reverend Chukwuma equally called on the Enugu State Government to, as a matter of urgency, establish COVID-19 testing centre in the State for easy handling of the deadly virus and to have actual number of persons carrying the virus.
The Anglican Archbishop also appealed to the Federal Government, and the Nigeria Centre of Disease Control (NCDC) to ramp up testing capacity as well as make more kits available to states so as to increase the number of people being tested for the virus in a bid to contain it.
Archbishop Chukwuma, said in a population of over 200 million, it was disheartening that below 5% of the population of the country had not been tested, emphasing that more people needed to be tested.
He called on Christian faithful to use this period to pray more than ever before.
“We need to call on God to heal our land and stop this ravaging virus that has caused us much pains.
“There is despair, anxiety, fear and depression in the land. God rescued his people during the plague while they were in captivity in Egypt; same God is still alive, and willing to save his always.
“Jesus said, when two or more are gathered in my name, I will hear them and heal their lands. Let us unite in prayer irrespective of our denomination,” the Archbishop prayed.
The Most Reverend Chukwuma emphasized the need to intensify enlightenment of people on COVID-19, especially in the rural aread as there were so many myths and misconceptions about the disease.
The Archbishop commended Governors in the zone for the gradual easing of the lockdown in the zone, urging the people to abide by various preventive and control measures outlined by the government to contain the virus.
CHRISTIAN NWANGENE