Anxiety has continued to mount in Kano State, especially its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, believed to be responsible for the growing number of deaths recorded daily in the state. Residents are now living in fear of the unknown; many have started to leave the ancient city in droves and may be inadvertently spreading the virus to neighboring states. The federal government yesterday escalated its containment efforts by opening additional three mobile testing centres to strengthen the war against the virus in the state.
The mass exodus intensified after news broke of the death of several high profile personalities in Kano within the last 24 hours. Professor Isa Hashim, the traditional title holder of Jarman Kano, died on Sunday in his home after a brief illness. His death came a day after the death of the Emir of Rano, Tafida Abubakar Ila. Hashim was one of the top title holders in Kano emirate
Details of his ailment were not immediately available but sources said Professor Hashim’s health deteriorated after the death of some of his childhood friends in quick succession. He was a professor of political science, an administrator and author. In another sad development, a former member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Ubale Jakada Kiru, died on Sunday morning. Also, a Commissioner for Education during Governor Kabiru Gaya’s governnent, Malam Haruna Shanono, has died. Haruna was former Chairman of Shanono local government and also chieftain of the APC.
Curiously however, Governor Abdulahi Ganduje, has despite the precarious situation, relaxed the lockdown order for Ramadan purposes, with increased deaths in the last 24 hours, including the passing of the Kano state’s Head of Communications, UNICEF, Malam Rabiu Musa. These have further heightened fear of residents. Particularly worrisome many of the Almajiris who have left the city have tested positive to the coronavirus.
Also, in obedience to Islamic injunctions, which prescribe immediate burial for Muslims, the cause of a majority of the deaths have been largely unknown, fueling speculations between some unknown and unverified illness and the ravaging Covid-19 because testing is not being done.
But the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, yesterday, said the current spate of community spread of Covid-19 could have been averted had the country shut down its borders earlier than it did in late March.
Fayemi, who said the situation has though not affected the commendable response of the Nigerian governments at all levels to the challenge posed by the pandemic, however hinted that the numbers would not stop climbing until sometime in June or July, when the curve would begin to flatten.
Yesterday night at 11. 55pm NCDC disclosed that 220 new cases had been confirmed bringing the total cases so far to 2388, while those discharged stood at 385 and deaths so far stood at 85. Lagos top yesterday confirmed cases with 62 new cases, followed by FCT with 52 cases, Kaduna 31, Sokoto 13, Kebbi 10, Yobe 9, Borno 6, Edo 5, Bauchi 5, Gombe 4, Enugu 4, Oyo 4, Zamfara 3, Nasarawa 2, Osun 2, Ebonyi 2, Kwara 2, Kano 2, Plateau 2.
This notwithstanding, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha said the battle against Covid-19 was winnable but with the full cooperation and support of the Nigerian people by adhering to all the safety rules and protocols.
In the same spirit, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday, while participating in an annual event, The Platform, hosted by Pastor Poju Oyemade and which held its first online edition in lieu of the Covid-19 challenge, said Nigeria and Nigerians would get through this phase together, much stronger economically and as a people because of their resilience.
Not unexpectedly, however, President Muhammadu Buhari, while celebrating the World Press Freedom Day, recognized and commended the Nigerian media “for the good work they have done, and are still doing,” as the country intensifies the fight against Covid-19.
But commenting on the state of the nation as far as the battle against the virus is concerned, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, drew attention of the nation to the situation in Kano, which he referred to as a litmus test in the concerted efforts to defeat Covid-19.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 sent to investigate the high incidence of deaths in Kano State, Dr. Nasiru Gwarzo, yesterday linked the deaths to the coronavirus, saying the results of 80% of the tests conducted on the deceased were positive for the disease. His report came on the day the NCDC said the tally for confirmed cases of the virus had climbed to 2,558 with 400 discharged and 87 dead. It said there were 170 fresh cases yesterday spread across 12 states, including Lagos 39, Kano 29, Ogun 24, Bauchi 18, Kaduna 15, Sokoto 12, Katsina eight, Borno seven, Nasarawa three, Adamawa two, and Oyo one
