Kogi state government has disagreed with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) over the two reported cases of COVID-19 in the state.
In a statement on Wednesday, Saka Haruna Audu, Kogi health commissioner, said the state government has developed “full testing capacity” and “conducted hundreds of tests” which have come back negative.
This position is contrary to that of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The centre reported two COVID-19 cases in the state on Wednesday.
In the statement, Audu said the state would not be a party “to any fictitious COVID-19 claims”.
“Kogi State till this very moment is Covid-19 free. We have developed full testing capacity and have conducted hundreds of tests so far which have come back negative,” he said.
“We have also continued to insist that we will not be a party to any fictitious COVID-19 claims which is why we do not recognise any COVID-19 test conducted by any Kogite outside the boundaries of the State except those initiated by us.
“Any attempt to force us to announce a case of COVID-19 will be vehemently rejected.”
The commissioner asked residents of the state to continue to take all necessary precautions to prevent a spread of the disease.
“We are more than prepared to secure the life of our people and have no interest in playing politics with their health concerns,” he said.
