Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, says the state is in a ‘serious problem’ in confronting the coronavirus pandemic.
The governor said this in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Monday.
He accused the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 of neglecting the state in the fight against the deadly disease.
The task force is headed by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.
“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,” Ganduje said.
“There is also a shortage of sample collection equipment. It is not 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 here but we have not heard from him again. The Minister of Health is also aware that the laboratory is not functioning.
“There is a serious problem. We have been complaining that Kano needs more than one testing centre, right from the beginning of this (pandemic).”
He added: “Sincerely speaking, we are not getting deserved attention. If these equipment (testing centres) are under our control, we will do our best to make sure it works properly. But we are not getting the needed support and co-operation from the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.”
Kano is confronted with a non-functional laboratory and a flurry of strange deaths which the state says are not COVID-19-related.
Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, had on Sunday said during an appearance on Channels Television assured that the laboratory in Kano would resume operations on Monday (today) and that a delegation would be sent there “to thoroughly investigate the circumstances responsible for the rising mysterious deaths in the state”.
