From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Saturday said arrangements have been concluded to establish 10 Mobile Courts in the state to punish offenders of the lockdown order to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Ganduje while speaking during the Press Briefing organized by the Kano State Task Force on COVID-19 said that the closure of boarder entry points into the state remains in place.
He expressed appreciation that other neighbouring states in the North have agreed to lockdown their boarders for two weeks, pointing out that such move will go a long way in curbing the COVID-19 pandemic in the northern region.
Ganduje who agreed that the situation in Kano state was getting serious said the state government is doing everything within it’s power to contain it.
He added that already the state government has hired a hotel where suspected cases whose blood samples were taken are kept, adding that the Isolation Centre at Sani Abacha Stadium can accommodate 210 people at the moment.
According to him, the Isolation Centre at Kurna Dawakin Kudu where the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is situated is also active, though there are challenges of ventilators and other major facilities, while the 100 bed Isolation Centre at Muhammadu Buhari Specialist hospital is also working.
Ganduje also said the state government is planning production of one million face masks, adding that the n this is done, there may be need for making the wearing of face mask compulsory.
The Governor said Alhaji Aliko Dangote has promised to donate 5000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), ventilators and monitors.
Ganduje who cried out to Federal Government for financial assistance said the state will soon commence the second phase of distribution of palliatives targeting 50, 000 households, estimated to cost over N600 million.
The Commissioner of Local Government Affairs, Murtala Sule Garo who is the chairman of Almajiri Evacuation Committee also told journalists during the briefing that the state government has so far evacuated 1098 Almajiris to Katsina, Jigawa and Kaduna.
According to him, the Committee evacuated 419 Almajiri to Katsina, 524 to Jigawa and 155 to Kaduna, adding that arrangments have been concluded to evacuate over 100 Almajiris to Bauchi state by Monday.
He said the Committee collaborated with the state Ministry of Health and ensured that all the evacuated Almajiris were not COVID-19 positive.
The chairman of Kano Task Force on COVID-19, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna who is also the Deputy Governor in his brief remarks urged Kano residents to strictly observe the social distancing directive, personal hygiene and the stay-at-home-order.
