As the second wave of COVID-19 resurfaces at the global arena, of which Nigeria is not an exception, Kano state governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said the state would use the same technique used in the early days of the pandemic and crush the wave, through prayers and optimal efforts that would be put by healthcare workers and all other stakeholders.
He made the assertion during COVID-19 Press Briefing held at Africa House, Government House, Kano, Friday, he reveals that, “We are back to the drawing board. This is because COVID-19 is also back in our communities.
As the situation at the national level bounces back, we have no other option than to tighten our belts also and face it squarely.”
Assuring that what the state did during the heydays of the pandemic, needs to be repeated, “…so that we can win the war again. We have no time to waste.”
Adding that “All our infrastructural facilities, though not out of use, must be reinvigorated. For optimal use, as it was the case before. We also have to recall all those volunteer workers back. Sometimes in the past we reduced the list of our volunteer healthcare workers. We must call them back to the field again.”
Governor Ganduje said the state had no other option than to win the war against the pandemic. Emphasising that, “Together with our Ulamas (religious leaders), our traditional leaders, development partners, non governmental organisations,
community based organisations and all others, we must take the fight to community levels. We must all be on the same page.”
“As rightly observed by our technical committee on the negligence of our communities in complying with the COVID-19 protocols, we are going to use security agencies to see that the protocols are followed. We are also going to use our Ulamas, NGOs, CBOs and all other stakeholders,” he said.
Adding that, all public places must tighten strategies to see to the total compliance with the protocols as enunciated by healthcare workers, “… and it is being obtained through global best practice,” he urged.
On the palliative distribution, which was under the former Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Prof Muhammad Yahuza Bello and now under the Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, governor Ganduje appreciated that, “We are lucky that our palliative distribution has been under people who are honest and diligent.”
That, according to him, “…was why during the #EndSARS protest that our warehouses of our palliative materials were not attacked by hoodlums. Those responsible for the distribution of the palliative are people of proven integrity.
And the same Palliative Committee has a very good distribution system. Where we have up to 4 stages for the distribution.”
He also thanked Kano youth who did not participate in the recent #EndSARS protest which turned into violent protests in some states of the federation, saying that, “Apart from commending our healthcare workers, our COVID-19 Committee as well as the Technical Committee, our traditional institutions, development partners,
community and religious leaders, our youth deserve all commendation for being too responsible to participate in the destruction of our warehouses. They did not participate, which shows that they are responsible enough.”
