Tobias Sylvester
Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje has lamented that the state is in serious problem because of negligence by the Federal Government.
Reports emanating from Kano indicates that over 600 persons have died of a strange ailment in the past seven days, including prominent residents.
The Commissioner of Information in the state, Mallam Muhammad Garba, said investigation into the mysterious deaths was still ongoing but preliminary report from the Ministry of Health indicated that the deaths were not connected to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During an interview with BBC Hausa Service on Monday, Governor Ganduje described the current situtation in Kano as “bad and scary”.
He accused the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 of neglecting the state in its current battle against coronavirus spread. He said:
“We are in a serious problem. I can tell you the situation is really bad and scary. Because what we solely rely upon in fighting the disease is the testing centre.
“This laboratory suspended its operation five or six days ago. There is also a shortage of sample collection equipment. It is not a common equipment that you can go and buy in the market. Those whose samples were collected are still waiting to know their fate.
“The problem (is) with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19. Even its Director General was in Kano. He spent a night there, but we have not heard from him again. The minister (of health) too knows the laboratory is not working.
“There is serious problem. We have been complaining that Kano needs more than one testing centre, right from the beginning of this (pandemic).”
When asked if Kano state is not getting any support from federal government agencies on the fight against COVID-19, Ganduje said:
“Sincerely speaking, we are not getting deserved attention. If these equipment (testing centre) are under our control, we will do our best to make sure it works properly. But we are not getting the needed support and cooperation from from Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.”
Meanwhile, the minister of health, Osagie Ehanire, on Sunday said, the COVID-19 testing centre in Kano will resume operations on Monday.
KanyiDaily had reported that the testing laboratory was closed after some of its staff tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
