By Suleiman isah Minna
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control NCDC has applauded the proactive measures taken by the Niger state government to tackle the spread of Covid 19 pandemic.
Secretary to the Niger state Government and Chairman Task force on COVID 19 Ahmed Ibrahim Matane in a press conference on Wednesday while giving daily update of activities on the containment of CoronaVirus in Minna disclosed that NCDC has ranked the state as number one because of its proactive approach
According to him the emergency response which was spearheaded by the Lagos state government had though gave it an edge above Niger state but that the swift protocols put ìn place within the shortest possible time ìn tackling the disease made Niger to be ranked first above other states in the country .
He said ‘ The Niger state government especially members of Task Force on Covid 19 set up by Governnor Abubakar Sani Bello in addressing all the loopholes identified in the course of its assignment as regards to enforcement to ensure the success of their assignment.”
“The fastest way the disease can be subdued is when people comply with directives given to them by medical experts and strict adherence to stay at home order of Niger state government in addition to social distancing and hand washing”.
Matane maintained that the curfew in all parts of the state would always be reviewed saying just recently an upward review was carried out changing the time from 10am to 12pm due to lack of compliance instead of the earlier 10am to 8pm
He also said the state government has approved over three hundred and seventy five million naira to tackle Coronavirus pandemic and to at the same time ensure palliative get to to the people from the money approved.
Explaining the method to be adopted by the task force ìn the distribution of the palliative the SSG said all the two hundred and seventy four political wards in the state will be used saying only maize, millet and rice would be procured and be given to ameliorate the hardship faced by the less privileged .
