The ongoing fumigation in plateau state is carried out by the Agricultural Services and Training Centre (ASTC), mandated with the responsibility of disinfecting the 17 Local Government areas in Plateau State.
Recall that the Plateau State Governor, Simon Bako Lalong on Friday 10th April, 2020 flagged off the Fumigation Exercise after declaring a statewide total lockdown for 7days which ends on Wednesday 15th April by 11:30pm. Governor Lalong in issuing the state lockdown, said Plateau was using the opportunity to fumigate the entire 17 local government in the state.
However after the flag-off of the fumigation exercise, a lot of criticism have been made from the public, from questions on the need for such fumigation exercise considering the state is yet to record any case of the virus. Also there have been others who have asked striking observations based on the efficiency of the company handling the fumigation exercise given that some videos have surfaced on social media about methods of which the exercise is carried been out.
Our investigations revealed that ASTC is an indigenous Plateau company, owned 80% by the plateau state government with 20% stake owned by Israelis and are well equipped with the capacity to handle huge projects.
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| Dr Susan Bentu |
ASTC RESPONDS
ASTC Boss, Dr Susan Bentu in an interview with Online Reporters at ASTC office in Shendam on Tuesday, 14th April,2020 during the Fumigation redress and flag off for Plateau Southern Senatorial Zone. The ASTC boss stated that the organization has been cleared by relevant bodies in Nigeria to undertake fumigation exercises, she said “professionals bodies like NESREA, NAFDAC, Ministry of Health and others
monitor what we do and it is done to ensure the right chemicals are
mixed and also hazard free”
Bentu called on plateau citizens to shone rumors and appreciate the gesture of the state government not forgetting the good work ASTC is doing which meets all international standards. “ASTC is a professional body with trained personals in different departments as they have worked both in and outside the state”. “It is also of note that the chemicals used go through medical and scientific specification with a chemical pathologist on hand to mix before handing to field officers”. “The case of the social media video making round was an after-work returning of a staff as he was already done with the duty given and needed to return to the team.
She noted that Governor Simon Lalong will not compromise on the good and quality of such exercise as Plateau
State belongs to all of us and a Covid-19 free plateau is what the citizens should pray for while supporting the efforts and guidelines of government in the
fight against Covid-19.
Further clarification has been obtained about the exercise as most citizens have questioned why they are yet to see fumigators on their streets and ‘angwa’. The government said the exercise is covering only places of public gatherings, Major roads, markets and high profile centres that accommodates crowds as it expects individuals to follow suit and decontaminate their various houses by themselves.
