By Kenneth Jukpor
Following the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus which has infected over 8,000 people around the world and killed over 2,000, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Tin Can Island Command organized a sensitization campaign today.
The seminar with the theme; “Awareness/ Sensitization Workshop On Novel Coronavirus” included lectures on the virus as well as basic hygiene for prevention of coronavirus and other infections.
Speaking at the seminar, the Area Controller, Tin Can Customs Command, Comptroller Musa Abdullahi urged all officers of the Command as well as the stakeholders at the port to adhere to precautionary measures.
Some of the precautionary measures highlighted by the Command’s medical team include; use of face masks, hand sanitizers especially those with alcohol content to kill germs, hand gloves, frequently washing hands, among others.
Comptroller Musa also admonished officers to prioritize their health and well-being, advising the officers to report persons with strange cases such as abnormal coughing, sneezing and fever which are some of the symptoms of the coronavirus.
Although he asserted that the virus was yet to affect the revenue generation of the Command, he expressed worry that dwindling cargo traffic from China would ultimately hamper the revenue of the Command.
“The essence of this event is to sensitize Customs officers and stakeholders on the place of hygiene in handling cargoes following the outbreak of coronavirus. The medical team has indicated to port users on how to prevent contact with this virus as well as others. Simple hygiene such as washing our hands, face, using sanitizers, face masks, use gloves, etc are very vital” he told journalists.
Noting that prevention is always better than cure, he advised all stakeholders to adopt the precautionary measures outlined by the medical team and rush to the hospital for medical attention where necessary.
At the event, the Deputy Controller, Enforcement, Tin Can Island Customs, DC Dera Nnadi gave illustrations on the proper ways for utilizing items like; hand sanitizers, face masks, hand gloves, among others. He stressed that these minute gadgets could be life-saving equipments against the contact of the virus and other infections.
Noting that the virus reportedly wouldn’t survive on inanimate objects beyond three days, Nnadi encouraged officers to toe the line of caution emphasized earlier by the Area Controller, because there could be cases of mutation.
He equally charged the officers at the sensitization workshop to take the information to their respective divisions and the port stakeholders to also educate their colleagues on the need to deploy safety measures.
Nnadi admonished officers and the port stakeholders to imbibe the culture of utilizing hand gloves and hand sanitizers, especially during examination of cargoes at the port.
