From: Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Benue State Executive Council yesterday approved partial re-opening of schools in compliance with recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
The State Executive Council also approved a Public Private Partnership, (PPP) arrangement for the management of the Makurdi Modern Market.
Briefing newsmen after the EXCO meeting presided over by Governor Samuel Ortom, Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Ngunan Addingi said the schools would be re-opened for primary six(6) pupils and students in JSS 3 as well as SS3.
She stated that the Action Committee on COVID-19 would further meet with the Ministry of Education to work out modalities on protocols to be observed and a date for the re-opening of schools agreed on.
On the Modern Market, the Information Commissioner noted that due diligence would be carried out to identify interested persons in the Public Private Partnership arrangement and those with the requisite capacities for engagement.
Mrs. Addingi disclosed that the state Executive Council also approved a request for the 2019 and 2020 International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, Assisted Rice and Cassava Value Chain Development Programme.
She stated that the Benue State Government would pay its counterpart funding for the programme so that farmers in the state especially in six(6) local government areas could access funding for rice and cassava farming.
It should be noted that schools in the State have been closed down since March, 2020 following the outbreak of the Coronavirus.
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