Stop Mounting Pressure On Cross River, Focus On Kano State That Is COVID-19 Scarecrow, Group Warns NCDC

…Accuse Agency Of Hidden Agenda

By Matthew Ogune, Abuja

THE Society Committee Against COVID19 (SOCOCOVID), has raised alarm at the alleged insistence of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to send her staff to carryout test in Cross River State when it is yet to record any case of Coronaviirus.

Raising the alarm on Friday in Abuja, National Coordinator of SOCOCOVID, Kenneth Ibe-Kalu, advised the NCDC to channel its resources to Kano State that seems to be the COVID-19 scarecrow amongst all Nigerians and the International community.

The Coordinator wondered why the Nigerian government and its health systems that are struggling and begging other nations for medical supplies such as ventilators, testing kits, personal protection equipment could not deploy the few testing kits available to worst hit states lacking in prevention and management of Coronavirus.

Ibe-Kalu said: “Currently in Nigeria, Kano state seems to be the COVID-19 scarecrow amongst all Nigerians and the International community, we understand that only one testing center is situated in Kano State by NCDC and testing just resumed few days ago after being shut down.

“SOCOCOVID expects that setting up more testing centers in Kano State right now should be the right step and the right thing to do instead of wasting scarce commodity and resources on areas of less concern.

“The NCDC is allegedly busy forcing itself on a state like Cross River that is yet to record any case of Coronaviirus.

“We are aware of the fact that even the developed world in Europe and many countries, such as USA, Great Britain, France, Italy, Spain and many more are yet to record appreciable numbers of testing due to low availability of testing kits.

“The case of USA readily comes to mind when Mr. Donald Trump announced his plans to reopen the economy, health professionals, business leaders and politicians warned him against the idea and advised the government to wait until enough appreciable test is achieved.

“Our case here is that Nigeria with marginal testing capability is more concerned through its organs, NCDC to deploy its testing kits to a state that has so far recorded zero COVID-19 index case; what a preposterous idea! Or is there any hidden agenda on the side of NCDC?”

He urged the NCDC to Supply Cross River state government with more testing kits
or accept to be quarantined if they insist on wasting time in Cross River State, adding that SOCOCOVID advises the NCDC to stop the pressure on Cross River State and concentrate on Kano State.

Ibe-Kalu called on the media to join the patriotic struggle by informing Nigerians the
real situation and not propaganda, adding: “Everyone knows the fact that Coronavirus has no political, religious, ethnic barrier, poor or rich barrier hence all hands must be on deck to consign Coronavirus to the dust bin of history.”