To ensure the observance of the various measures put in place to check the spread of COVID-19 in Plateau State, civil servants on levels 10-14 are to be deployed across the state.

This was disclosed on Sunday by Gov. Simon Lalong during a state broadcast.

“During my visit to our State boundaries at Forest- Hawan Kibo; Ganawuri-Manchok; and Jingre-Saminaka, I again warned that those compromising our collective security will not be allowed to prevail as Government was more than ever determined to put an end to the flagrant disregard for directives.

“The use of facemasks in public places remains compulsory, and anyone found not using one outside his home would be arrested and charged to the mobile court.

“To ensure better enforcement and compliance, the government will henceforth enrol some of its civil servants for the exercise. Accordingly, the Head of Service has been directed to immediately deploy civil servants from grade levels 10-14 to various points across the State”, he stated.

According to him, “Local Government Chairmen are to also replicate the same in their domains to ensure effective coverage of the entire State”.

He banned activities at the Farin Gada market and promised the provision of palliatives.

“The Faringada Market continues to defy all guidelines for social distancing and sanitation and poses a potent threat to our efforts to defeat COVID-19.

“Therefore, the market will be shut down until the trader unions and the Management of Jos North Local Government come up with an acceptable model for regulation that poses no risk to public health and safety”, he said.

“In the coming weeks, more palliatives from the Federal Government and the private sector donor initiative, CACOVID, shall be received to boost the efforts of the State Government.

“We have realised almost 100 million naira in donations and I re-assure you that we shall deploy it transparently”, he added.