Benue state government has met with Managers of hotels and operators of beer palours and other fast food joints in the state to sensitize them on the fight against the Coronavirus.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner For Information, Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Ngunan Addingi informed that Government has invited them to assist her in curtailing the spread of the virus in the state.
She told them to see themselves as part and parcel of the fight and to help the state to prevent her from having a crisis of becoming a COVID state.
Addingi who urged hotel owners to pay attention to what their managers are doing cautioned that “this attitude of leaving bedsheets for three or four days must stop. If your cleaners are cleaning once a day, they must now clean three times a day.
“Fumigate your premises and constantly clean door handles and all surfaces. Keep data of all guests and visitors that come into the state to lodge at your hotels, especially when they came in and when they left.
“Every action in your hotels must gear towards fighting the spread of the disease. If you notice that anyone comes into the hotel and is sick and behaving funny, report to the authorities.
“Do not habour people who are sick in your hotel because anyone who is found to be doing so will have their hotels closed,” she warned.
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Also speaking, State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Mr. Sunday Ongbabo said the need for all Benue people to be on the same page in the fight against the disease cannot be over emphasized.
Ongbabo said simple hygiene techniques can keep the virus away and advised the participants to promote hand washing, absolute clean environment and social distancing.
“Do not encouraged people to gather and cluster in your hotel environment. Do not see the COVID-19 as a Government challenge but play your part so that with your support we will all come out of it.”
Speaking on behalf of Hotel Owners in Makurdi, Mr. Bob Echikwonye pledged they will comply with government directives.
Echikwonye who cautioned his members not to take anything for granted urged then to go back and educate all their workers so they can be on the same page with the COVID-19 committee.
He also cautioned his members against downsizing just as he urged them to obey the rules and regulations of government particularly the dusk to dawn curfew saying closing time remains 7p.m.
A representative of the Civil Society, CSOs, Mrs. Helen Teghtegh further advised hoteliers and restaurant owners to put up water stations and encourage their customers to wash their hands as they come in.
