The Kano State government has rejected one out of the twenty-one COVID-19 cases confirmed by the Nigerian Center for Disease Control (NCDC) in the state.
Jigawa state commissioner of Health and chairman, state COVID-19 task force, Dr Abba Zakari who confirmed the case to newsmen, said the victim is an indigene of Jigawa state who is travelling from Lagos state.
He said the victim was isolated in Kano State and a blood sample was taken to Nigerian Center for disease control and he was confirmed positive.
According to him”It has come to the notice of the Jigawa State Government that a rumour going around that Jigawa State recorded a case of novel Coronavirus and the rumour is fast circulating in the Social media”
“Although the said victim is an indigene of Jigawa State but his sample was not taken in Jigawa State and was not confirmed in the shores of the State”
“The said victim is a passenger who was coming back from Lagos, passing through Kano en-route Jigawa, where he and one other were intercepted and isolated by the officials of the Kano State COVID-19 Task Force at the Kano State Border. One of the intercepted passengers later tested positive to the virus”.
” Regrettably, the bone of contention here is that the Kano State Government insisted on bringing the said victim to Jigawa State.
“It is a well-known fact, acknowledged by all and sundry that the Executive Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar is not taking the threat of this ravaging pandemic lightly, as he swung into action with various containment strategies ranging from the inauguration of task forces to combat the possible spread, policy pronouncements, restriction of movements and fumigation”
“Of the 36 state governors in the country, Governor Badaru along with his North-West Counterparts were the first to take proactive measures by closing down schools for 30 days from 23 March, which is crucial to prevent the spread of Coronavirus across the State”
“Moreover, the Comptroller General of Nigerian Immigration Services, Muhammed Babandede who was also an indigene of Jigawa State, was tested positive to the virus, but was never recorded as a Jigawa State case, because he was not tested in Jigawa, rather he was confined and isolated at the FCT where his sample was taken.
“In view of the foregoing, the Jigawa State Government hereby unequivocally states that there is no record that the Jigawa State Government has any confirmed case of COVID-19″.
” The insistence of the Kano State to bring the said victim was not overturned by the Jigawa State Government, and Governor Badaru instructed and sent a medical team to bring down the patient, in which he was now receiving medical attention in the Jigawa State Isolation Center”
“The Jigawa State Government will always be concerned, ready and willing to bring back home any of its indigene who was rejected or stigmatized by any state”
“In any case, the public is hereby advised to disregard this information as no case of coronavirus disease has been recorded in Jigawa state, nor any suspected case is currently being investigated”
“Governor Badaru also called on the residents to remain calm and not panic, while he assured the good people of Jigawa State of his continued commitment towards preventing the pandemic in the state, saying that all measures of safety are being put in place to prevent its occurrence”
“The Governor who said winning the war against COVID-19 is a collective responsibility appealed to residents to strictly observe a high level of personal hygiene, follow government’s simple directives and instructions, and avoid non-residential travels within the country”
He said the victim was moved from Kano state to Jigawa state isolation centre in Dutse and is responding to treatment.
