Imo government orders arrest of face mask defaulters

• Buhari approves science varsity, technical college in Imo
• PWDs protest against neglect, non-remittance of subventions

In its determination to ensure that its residents do not witness another phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Imo State Government has ordered law enforcement agents to arrest face mask defaulters in the state.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, made this known after the weekly State Executive Council meeting at Government House, Owerri, presided over by Governor Hope Uzodimma.

Emelumba said the council held the resolution, reminding the residents of the state that the governor had signed the Executive Order, making wearing of face masks compulsory in public places among other safety protocols to contain the pandemic, saying any person arrested would be prosecuted according to the law.

He said the state government had warned of another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in view of the rising cases recorded, adding that the council frowned on the the way residents move about freely without complying with safety protocols.
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the establishment of the Federal University of Science and Technical College, located at Umuaka, Imo State.

Emelumba said the council appreciated the president for the approval, noting that apart from the economic gains and employment benefits, educational opportunities await qualified applicants to gain admission to other higher institutions.

He noted that the state government had been communicated to that effect, adding that reopening of state-owned tertiary institutions would soon be communicated to all stakeholders.

MEANWHILE, people with disabilities (PWDs) disrupted vehicular movements, economic and social activities yesterday in Owerri, protesting against what they described as insensitivity of the state government to their plight, including offering employment opportunities and payment of subventions to them as approved by Governor Hope Uzodimma.

They marched from the Imo International Conference Centre (IICC) through Bank Road and Okigwe Road Roundabout to Government House entrance, but security operatives stopped them after addressing journalists on their grievances.

The protesters, led by Dr. Stanley Nwachukwu, told reporters that they were demanding adequate employment quota, lamenting that about 70 per cent of the physically challenged persons with degrees were neglected in employment.