Kano Is In “Trouble” Over COVID-19 Spread – Gov. Ganduje

Kano state Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, says the state is in trouble over the spread of the novel Coronavirus.

The Governor noted that the state’s response to the virus started on a shaky foundation which eventually led to the escalation of cases.

He stated this during the presentation of a mobile testing centre donated by the Dangote Foundation in the state.

“There is no doubt that Kano is in trouble. And there is no doubt that we started on a shaky foundation,” he said.

“When samples were taken to Abuja for seven hours and came back again in seven hours, that was the shaky foundation I am talking about.

“We then lodged complaints to President Muhammadu Buhari, who ordered for the establishment of a Testing Centre at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, which after take-off was shut down for some days if not weeks. That was what escalated the transmission of the disease up to community transmission.

“With the coming back of the AKTH Testing Centre and the addition of Bayero University, Kano that has the capacity of testing about 200 samples per day now, with the coming of Dangote Mobile Testing Centre of 400 samples capacity, we are making headway in facing the crisis squarely.”

On his part, Chikwe Ihekweazu, director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), said his agency has not abandoned Kano.

“I want to assure you that, by the time we hear from the findings of Dr Nasiru Sani Gwarzo’s team from the Presidential Task Force, for the days they have been here, we will have more solutions that we will use in solving the problems from Kano,” he said.

Kano has recorded the second highest number of COVID-19 cases in the country with 342 patients.