…As Egbeyemi Advises Youths Against Drug Abuse

As the world look forward to a known cure of the dreaded COVID-19 infection, there have been many local remedies believed to be helpful for the prevention of the disease. In some quarters, it’s believed that drinking local gin, popularly known as ogogoro, or local herbs can prevent coronavirus.

The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, who spoke on Saturday while monitoring the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Ido/Osi Local Government area, gave useful advise to the people regarding the drinking local gin.

Joined during the exercise by the Head of Service, Mrs Peju Babafemi; Chairman of Ido/Osi Local Government, Mr Ayodimeji Adeola and other senior government functionaries, he dismissed the claims that gins prevents the disease.

The Street Reporters Newspaper reports that Chief Egbeyemi then urged residents of the state to adhere strictly to COVID-19 protocols, personal hygiene and always clean their environment so as not to contract the disease.

The deputy governor also frowned at the refusal of many residents to use face masks since the easing of lockdown in the state.

The deputy governor, who stopped over at Ayetoro, Usi and Ido-Ekiti to enlighten residents on COVID-19, enjoined them to always wear their face masks, wash their hands regularly, avoid crowded areas and observe social distancing so as not to fall victims of the disease.

Egbeyemi said it was incredible that some individuals, especially youths, would believe that drinking ‘Ogogoro’ could prevent COVID-19, maintaining that only obedience to safety rules could guard against it.

Describing such belief as mere fallacy, he urged residents to cooperate with the Dr Kayode Fayemi-led administration to defeat the disease and ensure a healthy populace.

Egbeyemi, who advised youths against indulging in drug abuse, also urged them to always to always participate in the monthly environmental sanitation as a form of community service.

“COVID-19 is real and we have heard about many people it has killed, including very distinguished and prominent Nigerians who contracted the disease but didn’t survive it.

“Let’s follow the COVID-19 rules and protocols of regular hand washing, wearing of face masks, avoiding crowds and observance of physical and social distancing.

“Drinking ‘ogogoro’ or local herbs can’t prevent COVID-19. Such belief is a fallacy. Let’s obey all the rules, including wearing face masks, which many people have abandoned since the lockdown was relaxed. It is for our own good,” he said.

He commended the youth in Usi-Ekiti, who used the period to engage in the rehabilitation of a major community road, urging the council chairman to assist in construction of the road.

Speaking on his assessment of the exercise, Egbeyemi said there was improvement in Ido-Ekiti, the council headquarters, unlike the previous months, urging residents to sustain the tempo.

The deputy governor condemned the rate at which some commercial motorcyclists in Ado, the state capital, defied the restriction, warning that punitive action would be taken against them in subsequent exercises.

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