Kano Debacle: President Buhari Breaks Silence On Strange Disease Ravaging State

For days on end, Kano state has been in the news for the most surreal of reasons, no thanks to a malignant strange disease that has almost brought the state to its knee.

This yet-to-be identified disease has killed over 400 people in the state, a development that was, initially, vehemently debunked by the state government, but after incessant media attention on the  state and barrage of information from residents, the government eventually owned up and admitted that things are gloomy in the ancient enclave.

Subsequently, the state appealed to the federal government to come to its aid as it does not have the wherewithal to tackle the debacle.

Consequently, in his Nationwide broadcast on Monday about the health challenges rocking the country, President Muhammadu Buhari expressed concerns about the morbid development in Kano.

To this end, Buhari said the federal government would unleash its might towards making sure normalcy is restored in Kano state.

He said the federal government would provide the state with all needed assistance in order to overcome the scourge, adding that the two weeks lockdown imposed by the state government would remain and be duly enforced

“The total lockdown recently announced by the State Government shall remain enforced be enforced for the full duration. The Federal Government shall deploy all the necessary human, material and technical resources to support the State in controlling and containing the pandemic” he saif

In related development, the president also approved the relaxation of the lockdown in the federal capital territory, Lagos and Ogun States.the president also approved the relaxation of the lockdown in the federal capital territory, Lagos and Ogun States.

The President imposed the lockdown four weeks ago as part of efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The president who gave the order to have the lockdown lifted in his nationwide broadcast on Monday, however banned social gatherings.

The relaxation was consequent upon the recommendation of the presidential task force.

Buhari, however, said the current Lockdown in FCT, Ogun and Lagos will remain till 1st of May.

The President “Based on the above and in line with the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on COVID nineteen, the various Federal Government committees that have reviewed socio-economic matters and the Nigeria Governors Forum, I have approved for a phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures in FCT, Lagos and Ogun States effective from Monday, 4th May, 2020 at 9am.

“However, this will be followed strictly with aggressive reinforcement of testing and contact tracing measures while allowing the restoration of some economic and business activities in certain sectors.

“The highlights of the new nationwide measures are as follows;

a. Selected businesses and offices can open from 9am to 6pm;

b. There will be an overnight curfew from 8pm to 6am. This means all movements are will be prohibited during this period except essential services;

c. There will be a ban on non-essential inter-state passenger travels until further notice;

d. There will be partial and controlled interstate movement of goods and services will be allowed to allow for the movement of goods and services from producers to consumers

“We will strictly ensure the mandatory use of face masks or coverings in public in addition to maintaining physical distancing and personal hygiene. Furthermore, the restrictions of on social and religious gatherings shall remain in place. State Governments, corporate organisations and philanthropists are encouraged to support the production of cloth masks for citizens.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the lockdown in the FCT, Lagos & Ogun States shall subsist remain in place until these new ones come into effect on Monday, 4th of May 2020 at 9 am.

“The Presidential Task Force shall provide sector specific details and timing guidelines to allow for preparations by Governments, businesses and institutions.

“The above are guidelines. State Governors may choose to amend adapt and expand based on their unique circumstances provided they maintain alignment with the guidelines issued above on public health and hygiene.

President Buhari had ordered the restriction of movements in the affected states which are the hardest hit by the coronavirus in the country, for four weeks. The four weeks elapses today, Monday, April 27, 2020.

Nigeria’s tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to 1273 on Sunday from 1182 reported on Saturday evening by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

NCDC in a tweet Sunday night said that 91 new cases were reported in 16 states. These are Lagos, Sokoto, Taraba, Kaduna, Gombe, Ondo, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Edo, Oyo, Rivers, Bauchi, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Ebonyi and Kebbi.

A breakdown of the latest update shows that 43 of the new cases were reported in Lagos, eight in Sokoto, Taraba – six, Kaduna and Gombe – five, Ondo, FCT, Edo, Rivers Bauchi and Oyo – three, Osun – two, while Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, and Kebbi have one case apiece.

Lagos remains the epicentre for the outbreak in Nigeria, Three states – Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Taraba and Kebbi – reported their first cases of the infection on Sunday.

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