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Finally, the mystery behind the unexplainable number of deaths reported in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State has been unravelled.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) recalled that Awoiyeala Samuel Allison, President of the Bonny Graduates Forum had raised alarm to the unpalatable incident in May.
Since then, suspecting Coronavirus disease, officials of the State Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) collected samples for testing to determine what is responsible for the strange occurrence.
On Monday, the State Governor, Nyesom Wike called a meeting to address the situation where some tests conducted so far and with briefs from the State Ministry of Health paints the picture that Bonny is becoming an epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic in the State.
Governor Wike said the Government might consider a possible lockdown of the Bonny kingdom after due consultation with the Amanyanabo of Bonny.
He stated that the highest number of people testing positive to the COVID-19 in the kingdom are oil workers, which he said accounts for 60 percent of cases recorded so far.
He said the situation has vindicated his position on the need for oil companies to cooperate with the State Government to fully implement the COVID-19 preventive protocol.
“Nobody is against anybody carrying out oil exploration activities. All I have always argued is that if you are bringing people from outside the State, which is like an interstate movement, there is a need for us to know so that we are able also to take precaution and make sure that they follow the protocol put in place by the NCDC.
“Nobody will want to stop oil exploration because that is the mainstay of the economy of this country. But people have to be alive before you can use the revenue. If you make the money from the oil sector and human beings are not there, what will be the essence of making the whole money.
“Money is to be used to advance economic life but man’s well-being is more important. So we felt that there is a need for us to work together so that we will be able to reduce this pandemic in the State,” Governor Wike said.
The Governor urged the oil companies to provide basic hygiene items like hand sanitisers and water at strategic places in Bonny communities.
On the issue of denial pervading the community, the Governor promised to engage the traditional institution and community development committees to enlighten the people on the reality of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, three international oil companies have expressed interest to collaborate in establishing a 30-bed COVID-19 treatment centre in Bonny.
TNG reports the companies are the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas company (NLNG), the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), and the Exonn Mobil Producing Unlimited Company.
The companies, which were part of the meeting called by Governor Wike at Government House, Port Harcourt, agreed to upgrade and equip the Bonny General Hospital in a treatment centre. The treatment centre is expected to be prepared and equipped within the next four weeks.
The Managing Director of Nigeria LNG Ltd, Tony Attah appreciated the bold measures taken by the Governor in dealing with the pandemic and pledged the company’s continued support.
The Deputy Managing Director of SPDC, Simon Roddy, pledged that his company would support all measures taken by the Government to keep the State safe.
In his own remarks, the Executive Director of Exonn Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Udobong Ntia also said they are fully committed to preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the State.