The Enugu State Government is set to punish schools, financial institutions, businesses who obey the illegal sit at home order ,says the state has gone pass such illegal directives.
Speaking, during a press conference, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said, “Enugu is open for business and the state is fully engaged in assuring that private sector actors feel very comfortable coming into Enugu. So, we will not tolerate non-state actors trying to jeopardise government’s effort in achieving this.
“Because we heard the rumours of an illegal sit-at-home directive by non-state actors, the security forces and the state government decided to move around the state to ensure that people feel safe and that there is no compliance to this illegal directive. We went through different locations, in thr state. We toured the schools, markets, financial institutions, and civil service offices, He commended those that were found on their duty post and businesses.
Onyia, assured that although Enugu had since gone past that stage, the government would ensure more security presence if only to reassure the people, stressing, however, that the government would visit sanctions on schools, markets, and institutions that defy the ban on sit-at-home.
“For those teachers and private or public schools that have decided not to show up to school today, the state government, as a policy, is to go back and ensure that those schools are sanctioned adequately. This also applies to markets, businesses, financial institutions and the rest of them. We insist on zero compliance to an illegal directive,” he stressed.
Speaking on behalf of other security chiefs, including the Garrison Commander, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General Steven Dogo; and State Director of the Department of State Services, Theresa Egbunu, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Anayo Uzuegbu maintained that sit-at-home remained an aberration in Enugu State and reiterated the determination of the security agencies and the government to deal ruthlessly with troublemakers.
“I want to let you know that in Enugu State, this idea of sit-at-home is an aberration. Enugu has outgrown all this scenerio. Enugu is not part of it and it does not exist here. So, all the propaganda and all the confusion only exist in the imagination of the peddlers.
He said he went around and there is no lapse in security and we have assured citizens of adequate security.
“So, on behalf of my colleagues, I want to assure the good people of Enugu that their security is guaranteed. Any action of a person or persons to jeopardise the peace of the state will be ruthlessly dealt with. The consequences are going to be very harsh,” CP Uzuegbu stated.
