Abuja- The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Tuesday has urged member states to sustain their efforts at tackling the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease to make travels across borders safe.
The commission’s President, Amb. Kadre Ouedraogo said this when he met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Aminu Wali in Abuja.
According to him , appropriate measures are now in place to stem the virus from spreading unduly while member states keep their borders open.
Ouedraogo assured that “people could travel safely within the region” as the governments of the various countries were not relenting in their efforts towards curbing the spread of the deadly disease.
“With the Ebola epidemic, there is the problem of free movement of persons and goods.
“At the last summit held on 6 November in Accra we launched an appeal on member states not to close their borders because closing the borders is not a solution for Ebola.
“Rather countries should be vigilant and take all the necessary steps at any entry point. Passengers are screened whether they go out or they come in.
“We have made sure that every member state has taken the appropriate measures.
“And I think that people can travel safely now in our region but we need to keep our borders open, we need to keep trade flowing.
“We need to keep the economic life going because Ebola cannot bring us to a halt.
”ECOWAS is pleading for the opening of the borders, for the resumption of airline services, maritime transport and we are again in solidarity with our most affected countries.”
He also recalled that the bloc was training 150 health volunteers to be deployed to the most affected countries in the region.
Ouedraogo commended the volunteers for their “courage and initiative”, noting that
ECOWAS would take up the costs of deployment and stay of the health workers in the affected countries.
Earlier, Ouedraogo held discussions with the foreign minister on the setting up of a committee to resolve the issues surrounding property owned by the commission in Katampe, Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the property was initially acquired to set up accommodation for members of staff of the commission.
NAN, however, reports that since members of staff were given money to get accommodation, the project was put on hold.
Wali said that setting up a committee would ensure modalities were put in place to resolve issues on ground.
Mr John Chukwu, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Capital Territory Administration is expected to chair the committee.
Chukwu gave assurance that the committee would come up with modalities to “dispose of the property” since it was not used for the purpose it was intended.
“We must understand that that the place constitutes both security and environmental hazard.
“We contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to inform ECOWAS and as a committee we need to go there and assess the buildings to see their current state.
“And we advise government on the appropriate measures to take. All stakeholders’ interests will be taken care of.” (NAN)
