NOA Staff to Waive Easter Holidays

By James Ezema

In continuation of its mandate, particularly at a challenging time occasioned by the dreaded Coronavirus Disease (COVID19) pandemic, the Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr. Garba Abari has charged staff of the Agency has spoken on the agency’s plan on awareness creation during the Easter period.

He noted that the agency would intensify its enlightenment campaign on the pandemic, particularly at the community level, to during the celebrations in order to curb the spread of the disease in communities.

According to a statement signed by the Assistant Director, Press, Paul Odenyi, NOA, this has become necessary following indications from the Presidential Task Force on COVID19 and available data that local transmission of the disease is on the increase as imported transmission is on the decline.

The NOA Director General in an Easter message to Nigerians, urged the staff of the Agency to waive their Easter holidays and use the period to enlighten their respective communities on the symptoms of COVID-19 and its preventive measures.

Abari also urged Nigerians to use the Easter celebration to pray for the safety of health workers who are making great sacrifices within and beyond the call of duty to combat the scourge and save lives, likening their sacrifices to that of Jesus Christ who gave His life to save humanity.

While wishing Nigerians a happy Easter in spite of the pandemic and lockdown, the NOA Director General urged citizens to maintain precautionary measures against COVID19 during the celebration, including regular hand washing, use of hand sanitizers, covering the nose and mouth with disposable napkins or with a bent elbow when sneezing or coughing, the need to stay at home and reporting promptly to the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) if a COVID19 infection is suspected.