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Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has held special meeting with Muslim and Christian clerics as the second phase of Covid-19 lockdown declared in the state lapsed.
The meeting held in two sessions at Government House dwelt on the government’s response to the pandemic.
The governor, who spoke on what his administration was doing to contain the pandemic, sought for collaborative measures that could guarantee the support of worship centres in moblisation of citizens on preventive measures.
He also sought the advice of the religious leaders in writing through the office of the Deputy Governor who is the chairman of the state high Powered response committee on COVID-19, on the next line of action as the lockdown.
Zulum who had declared the lockdown “as painful, but necessary” promised to review the lockdown.
He added that the State’s high powered committee on COVID-19, he appointed in March, would announce conditions and regulations to be followed in the event the lockdown was to be relaxed.
The governor expressed concern that a significant portion of Borno’s population earned their livelihood on daily basis through petty trades and offering services.
He also said most of the population were farmers who needed to start clearing their farmlands as the rainy season sets in.
In their respective responses, the Chief Imam of Borno, Alhaji Zannah Laisu, and the state Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Mohammed Naga, promised to advise accordingly.
They lauded the governor for considering religious leaders among key stakeholders in government’s decision-making.
