FG Has Abandoned Kano In COVID-19 Pandemic- Ganduje Alleges

Kano State Government has accused the federal government of abandoning the state in the fight against COVID-19.

The state governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje made the allegation in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Monday and monitored in Kano by Solacebase.

Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said the Presidential Taskforce under the leadership of Mr Boss Mustapha has not been supporting and collaborating with the state task force in terms of checking the spread of the disease.

‘’The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control COVID -19 testing laboratory at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital has been shut for almost a week and we are not able to conduct the test and send to Abuja for analysis. The Presidential Taskforce is yet to do anything about this despite my complaints, ‘’alleged Ganduje.

Solacebase reports that over the last week, increasing deaths in Kano has created tension across the country that has led to the federal government investigating the cause of the deaths was reported to be in the range of 640 people.

Although Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has severally denied the increasing death in the state, accusing the Daily Trust newspaper of peddling falsehood on the mysterious deaths in the state. Ganduje made the allegation on a Channels television program, Politics Today last week.

In the program, Ganduje announced that the state has applied to the federal government for support of N15bn to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the NCDC DG Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu was in Kano last week and saw the situation, but up till now, the state is yet to hear any response in terms of the centre and any support.

When asked if he has gotten in touch with the president on the issue, Ganduje said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation who is the Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce, Boss Mustapha was informed and same with the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and the Health Minister, Dr Osagie Ehanire, although they promised to see to the challenges of Kano on the COVID-19 pandemic, nothing has been done up till this moment.

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However, reacting to the accusation, a member of the Presidential Taskforce, Dr Sani Aliyu said the committee is doing its best to support Kano on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Sani Aliyu said a team of 5 medical experts were deployed to Kano on Sunday so as to facilitate the reopening of the NCDC/AKTH COVID-19 testing centre today, Monday, after the fumigation of the laboratory.

‘’Right now 17 health personnel of NCDC and WHO also are in Kano already supporting the state task force on COVID-19,” said Dr. Sani Aliyu.