Categories: News

Kogi Fumes As FG Declares State High Risk For COVID-19

Gov. Yahaya Bello

The Kogi government has berated the federal for warning people to be wary of making the state their travel destination amid claims and counter claims of COVID-19 presence in the state.

The state governor, Yahaya Bello, had, on several occasions, scoffs at claims of the infection’existence in the country and also derided it as a hoax which is aimed at embezzling public funds.

But the presidential taskforce (PTF) on COVID-19, on Monday, classified the state as “high risk” for COVID-19 following its vehement refusal to acknowledge the existence of the disease, report tests or build isolation centres.

The PTF warned Nigerians to beware of visiting the state.

But reacting, Kingsley Fanwo, the state commissioner for information and communication, said the PTF and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) are trying to chase away investors from the state.

He said the figures of COVID-19 churned out by the NCDC has not deterred investors from making the state their favourite destination.

Fanwo averred that the government is attacking the state because of its position that the COVID-19 pandemic should not be turned into a money-making venture at the detriment of Nigerians.

He added that the state has done more enlightenment sensitisation on COVID-19 than any other state in the country.

“Despite their unreliable figures, Kogi emerged as the preferred investment destination of Nigeria in the last quarter of 2020. They felt embarrassed and the best way to hit back is to create a picture of health crisis in the state,” Fanwo said.

“Kogi was the first state to procure face masks in thousands and distributed to all the councils, as well as the first to set up a team to combat the spread of the virus.

“We set up isolation centres with state-of-the-art equipment. We have done sensitisation more than any other state. So if we don’t believe that COVID-19 exists, we won’t be doing all we are doing to ensure it doesn’t ravage our state.

“What we said and still saying is that COVID-19 is not worth all the marketing going on just for a few to make billions; that we do not have to suffer innocent Nigerians while a few smile to the banks.”