By Dipo Olowookere
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has announced the decision of his administration to reduce the cost of rents for houses, commercial shops and business premises by 50 percent.
The Governor made this announcement on Monday during a state-wide broadcast on measures being taken by the his government to address the global coronavirus pandemic, which has infected 36 persons in Nigeria and has claimed a single life so far in the country.
Mr Fintiri said though Adamawa State was yet to record any case of COVID-19, efforts are being made to rev up the attention that is necessary to contain or prevent the spread of the pandemic by preparing an isolation ward, equipped with monitors, at the Yola Specialist Hospital.
He said in order to make the state’s economy remain strong, his administration has resolved to implement cost saving measures such as a review of the current budget by 20 percent, coupled with a reduction in overhead cost by 50 percent across board.
“To cushion the effect of the alarming economic challenge of COVID-19, (the state) government has agreed on a 50 percent reduction in the cost of house rent, commercial shops and business premises,” the Governor also announced during the broadcast.
Continuing, Mr Fintiri said, “Government is aware of the impact of the economic implication of the current meltdown on informal businesses where majority of citizens are involved and has graciously approved another 50 percent reduction in the taxes affecting this category.”
“However, government is mindful of the need to shore-up its earnings and will therefore, intensify effort on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in areas where there will be minimal effect on the public wellbeing,” he stressed.
“Fellow citizens, we all know that these measures are not going to be easy but they are necessary. Political correctness should not be the criteria for political expedience.
“There is no doubt that going by what is happening now, the financial inflow of the state government has been affected, but while adjusting to the prevailing reality, government will do its best to implement the agenda it has set out to achieve,” Governor Fintiri stated.
He used the occasion to announce the setting up of the Adamawa State COVID-19 Containment Committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Bashiru Ahmad. He said the team will have as members the Commissioner Health, Professor Abdullahi Isa; the Medical Director, Yola Specialist Hospital; Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre Yola; the Commissioners for Local Government; Environment; Information and Strategy; Livestock and Aquaculture Development; while the Director Public Health, Ministry of Health will serve as the Secretary.
“Its terms of reference include but not limited to coordinating the overall Medico-social response to COVID-19 pandemic paying attention to public sensitization and implementation of containment measures.
“The committee shall be responsible for regular briefings and updates on containment measures,” the Governor said.
He urged residents of the state to “pay attention to regular briefings by the state Commissioner for Health, to keep abreast with unfolding developments,” saying government realised that “ignorance and lack of information often aggravate cases of serious public health crisis like the case at hand.”
Mr Fintiri also appealed to religious leaders and traditional rulers in the state to help sensitise the people on ways to stop the spread of the coronavirus, especially by moderating their congregation to a maximum of 50 people, until further notice.
“All conventions, congresses, seminars and workshops that will warrant a gathering of more than 50 people at a time, are hereby banned till further notice.
“For the avoidance of doubt, all forms of social, religious, and cultural gatherings, that will attract more than 50 people, are also hereby banned,” he said.
Adedapo Adesanya