The governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Ganduje, has declared that the government will not impose lockdown in the state.
Mr Ganduje made the declaration during the formal launching of 2,000 COVID-19 marshals, held at the government house on Sunday.
Recall that last year, the state government imposed lockdown to check the rising cases of COVID-19 in the state,
In his remark on the occasion, Mr Ganduje said the government deemed inappropriate to impose the lockdown, as it did last year, looking at its economic impact on the people of the state.
He said despite the rising cases of the infection and deaths being recorded in the state, the government would not impose lockdown because it is on top of the situation.
“Looking at the effect of lockdown on people, which affected their economic well-being, we feel that there is no need to lock this state down. But we are doing a lot to ensure that we protect our people.
“Our task force committee on COVID-19 is doing well in fighting the pandemic. The committee will also continue to make efforts and convince people to follow protocols in a bid to rid the state of the pandemic.
“We have engaged all critical stakeholders, such as security agencies, traditional rulers, ulamas, media, medical practitioners, among others, that is why we have inaugurated these marshals to support in enlightening and enforcing people to obey the protocols,” Mr Ganduje said.
The governor also hailed the marshals as professional health institutions graduates who would use their education in practice while discharging their duties.
He expressed optimism that the marshals are up to the task and would perform as expected.
In his remarks, the state Commissioner of Health, Dr Aminu Tsanyawa described the marshals as agile, young who are up to the task to discharge their duties diligently.
He disclosed that the marshals, who are first of a kind in Nigeria are carefully selected and would help tremendously in checking COVID-19 in the state.
He called on the general public to give maximum cooperation to the marshals, noting that fighting the pandemic requires collective efforts.
On his part, the Chairman Technical Committee of Covid-19 Response, Dr Tijjani Hussein urged people to ensure compliance of the protocols, stressing that the second wave is more dangerous than the first one.
He said every 13 out of 100 people tested in recent time turn out to be positive which signifies rise in the cases.
“Before the second wave of the disease we attained zero level of cases in Kano but now every 13 out 100 tests turns out positive. Compared to the first wave of the pandemic this is alarming because then we used to 4 positives out of 100 people.”
