Following continuous reports of lapses at the state’s borders, the Cross River state government have, with immediate effect, withdrawn all border enforcement team.

In a press statement signed by Christian Ita, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor Ben Ayade, “all appointees of government at the various border posts, with the exception of the Itu Bridge and Boki border post, are hereby withdrawn from the teams enforcing border closures.”

Consequently, village heads of border communities have been “directed to immediately organise vigilantes to man the various border posts with support from the Nigeria Police.”

“Accordingly, the new line of reporting will see the village heads reporting to the Paramount Rulers of their respective local government councils, who will in turn report to the Chairman of the state traditional rulers council,” the statement continued.

“Similarly, the Chairman of the state traditional rulers council is by the new guideline, expected to send reports directly to the Chairman of the COVID-19 response task force.”

Meanwhile, all the affected appointees of government withdrawn from the borders are directed to return COVID-19 vehicles in their possession within 24 hours to the Chairman of the COVID-19 Response Task Force in person.

Meanwhile, the Cross River State Government also on Monday, began the monthly payment of N30, 000 stipends to beneficiaries of the Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO) as a way to cushion effect of COVID-19 lockdown on poor residents.

The disbursement is in collaboration with the World Bank.

Commissioner for International Development Cooperation in the state, Inyang Asibong, during the commencement of the distribution in Akampa Local Government Area of the said the aim is to assistant the vulnerable during this period of the COVID-19 pandemic to meet their needs.

He added that the government has approved the payment for beneficiaries who are engaged in community services such as sanitation, clearing of gutters, erosion control among others.

The State Governor Ben Ayade had earlier imposed new restrictions on residents of the state including ‘no mask no movement.’

The governor said no resident of the state would be allowed to move without a face mask to contain spread of the Coronavirus.

Although, there is no confirmed case of COVID-19 in Cross Rivers, it shares border with Cameroon which has over 1,000 confirmed cases.