Wike Mulls Task Force On Rivers Borders …Signs Third Executive Order …As RSG Plans To Employ 3,000 Sanitation Marshals

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, yesterday, announced that the Rivers State Government would establish a task force to man her borders to ensure that Rivers people were protected from the novel Coronavirus.
Signing the Executive Order RVSG-02 No. 3 -2020 at the Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday, Wike said the task force would be in place because of the likelihood of sabotage from federal security agencies.
The governor said: “This is the third Executive Order that I will be signing since the Coronavirus pandemic started. This third Executive Order is very important.
“We suspect there will be sabotage on the part of the security agencies. That is why we are appointing a task force to man our borders. We owe our people a duty to protect them. There is likely to be sabotage. Our task force will be at the borders to protect our people”.
Wike said that contrary to the falsehood being peddled on the release of ExxonMobil staff, it was strictly on the intervention of respected Nigerians and not due to the threat to embark on strike.
“No federal agency spoke to us. But there were respected Nigerians who intervened and they were released by 8am on Sunday.
“ExxonMobil signed and agreed that they will take back their staff to Eket. That was the condition we gave for their release”, he said.
Wike announced that the laws on restriction of movement must be implemented for the safety of everyone.
“On Sunday, we arrested some staff of BOA who violated the law. They have been arraigned in court and remanded”, he said.
He reiterated that Coronavirus was no respecter of persons, pointing out that it has killed both influential and less privileged, hence the need to be more vigilant.
On the Dumping of Waste in Public Places (Prohibition) Bill 2020, Wike announced that the state government would employ 3,000 environmental sanitation marshals to implement the law.
He said that his administration was committed to the improvement of the sanitation of the state.
Speaking, the Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Martins Amaehwule said the Dumping of Waste in Public Places (Prohibition) Bill 2020 would stop the dumping of wastes on road median by residents.
In his remarks, the Attorney-General of Rivers State, Prof Zaccheus Adangor said the two legal instruments signed by the Rivers State governor would help in the fight against Coronavirus.
Adangor said the Quarantine (Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other infectious diseases) Regulations (No. 2-2020) stipulates non-custodial sentences for offenders, adding that individuals would be fined N50,000 while corporate organizations would be fined N1million.
He said that the regulations direct the Chief Judge of Rivers State to assign a Judge or Magistrate to try offenders.
The AG said the Executive Order RVSG-02 No. 3 -2020 empowers the state government to set up a task force to implement all legislations related to the fight against Coronavirus.
Also speaking, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, thanked the Rivers State governor for his commitment to the defence of the state.