Community Leader Seeks Fed, State Gov’t Provision Of Quarantine Facilities For Convicts In NCS
By Etim Paul
An urgent appeal has been made to the Federal and State Governments to address the insufficient capacity of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State to enable it admit new convicts in strict compliance to NCDC/WHO’s COVID-19 guidelines and protocols.
Presently, the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) centre in Ikot Abasi rejects convicts who are now left under the overstretched hands of the Nigeria Police in the area.
According to informed sources, the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) requires facilities to quarantine first of all place new convicts under 14-day quarantine in line with NCDC/WHO’s COVID-19 guidelines and protocols before fully allowing them into the centre.
A philanthropist in the area, Elder Jackson Jimmy Okon, who made the appeal to the Federal and State Governments, described it as an unfortunate development.
Elder Okon made the passionate appeal while chatting with newsmen on the alarming rate of daily increase of coronavirus infection, adding that the risk taken by the Police in such circumstances could only be imagined than described.
His concern, he explained, was in line with the aims and objectives of the Federal and State Governments to defeat COVID-19 pandemic as soon as possible.
The philanthropist, who spoke of the consequences of delaying to address the lack of facilities in the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) centres to quarantine fresh convicts was optimistic that the Federal and State Governments would not leave any stone unturned towards providing facilities to accommodate them. This, he added will assist them curtail the escalation of Covid-19 infection.
Okon used the opportunity to commend the state government on the level of awareness campaign carried out in the state on coronavirus pandemic.
He equally applauded the divisional police officer (DPO)in-charge of Ikot Abasi Divisional Police Headquarters, CSP – Loveday Oputibeya, and his officers and men for various strategies adopted to ensure full compliance on Covid-19 directives in the area.
The community leader implored people in the state to appreciate the laudable commitment as well as the seriousness of the state government towards curtailing the spread of the virus.
