The Plateau state Joint Technical Task Team on Emergency Response to COVID-19 on challenges of movement of food and agricultural inputs has warned transporters against conveying illicit items and passengers.
Plateau state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Edward Ebuka, who is the task force chairman, gave the warning at the inauguration of the committee in Jos.
Ebuka, who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (administration), Mr. Warebi Owatorufa, said that any transporter caught would be decisively dealt with.
The commissioner said that the task force was set up by the federal government to ease the movement of agricultural products and services to all parts of Nigeria during the lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic.
He said that the committee would be thorough and committed in ensuring that the purpose for its establishment was met.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Istifanus Finangwai, who inaugurated the team also commended the federal government for the initiative.
Finangwai lauded the federal government’s proactive steps in ensuring that agricultural business, which is central to human existence, go on unhindered during the pandemic.
“The Plateau state government will liaise with you in ensuring that you succeed in this assignment. Government will frown where there is compromise,” he said.
Mr. Haruna Akwashiki, state Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that Nigeria and indeed the whole world was fighting two battles; coronavirus and hunger.
Akwashiki, who is the secretary of the task force, said that the team was to devise strategies to ensure that food and agricultural products reached all parts of the country during the lockdown.
“The ministers of agriculture, defence, interior and police affairs met on April 20 and after in-depth deliberation, came up with a joint technical task team.
“The task team comprise the police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN).

“Others are the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) was set up at the national level.
The task team is to be replicated at both the state and local government area levels throughout the country,” he said.
According to him, the team would come up with strategies that would ensure minimal impact of COVID-19 pandemic on this year’s farming season in line with the directive of President Muhammad Buhari.
Akwashiki added that all the occupants of vehicles conveying food and agricultural inputs must have protective and sanitary items such as face masks, sanitisers and tissue papers.
He emphasised that those were part of the items to be checked by security agents at checkpoints before granting access to any truck.

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COVID-19: Plateau warns transporters against conveying illicit goods, passengers.