Borno lawmakers call for adherence to COVID protocol ahead of Buhari’s visit

Some members of the Borno house of assembly have called for strict adherence to COVID-19 protocol ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the state.

Buhari is expected to visit Borno on Thursday to commission some projects, including houses for the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The visit will be the first to Borno by the president since February 2020 when he was booed by some residents in Maiduguri.

Commenting on the visit, the Borno lawmakers asked residents of the state to strictly adhere to COVID-19 protocol.

The lawmakers frowned at the plan by Ali-Modu Sherif, former Borno governor, to fly in from Chad for the president’s visit, instead of proceeding on the seven-day self-isolation mandated for travellers coming into the country.

They noted that Kashim Shettima, senator representing Borno central, recently returned to the country from the UK and is presently self-isolating.

Meanwhile, Babagana Zulum, governor of the state, has asked residents to give Buhari a rousing welcome.

The governor said the president would appraise the security situation of the state and commission some developmental projects.

“The president is coming to appraise the security situation in the northeast, during which he will commission some developmental projects executed by the state government,” the governor said.

“The president will also commission the first phase of 10,000 houses which he generously approved and funded, for the resettlement of IDPs and refugees.

“I am glad to once again, confirm to you, that the federal government under President Buhari has completed 4,000 out of the 10,000 houses approved for our IDPs. Some of these houses are sited in Kaleri, Dalori and more locations.”