*May ease lockdown
From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Monday said the use of face masks has become necessary and compulsory for all residents in Kano state.
He distributed two million face masks and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to the leadership of eight Local Government Areas within the Kano municipality.
Ganduje who flagged off the distribution at the Open Theartre, Government House, also delivered a passionate lecture to residents, appealing to them on the need for regular wearing of face mask, washing and sanitizing of hands, personal hygiene and Social Distancing.
He also declared that no amount of total lockdown will stop the spread of COVID-19 if the people refuse to obey the protocols, pointing out that total lockdown is without adherence to normal protocols is “COVID-19-impossible.”
According to him, government at the state and Local Government Area levels is producing more face-masks that will go round the 44 Local Government Areas in the state.
He added that, “no amount of lockdown will break the chain of transmission of the virus until our people are ready to do their own part, until our people do obey the all the protocols of COVID-19, otherwise, all the efforts we have made, eventually, the result will not be achieved.
“I know the lockdown has constituted a number of problems to our people, but this is a sacrifice that we must do. However, the lockdown must be fine-tuned. Complete lockdown is COVID-19-impossible. There must be some fine-tuning, there must be some adjustment so that livelihood will also be given attention.
“But what is important in order to relax the lockdown, eventually, we must make the rules and regulations as part of our tradition and as part of our culture.”
He added thaf, “this disease is certainly affecting the tradition and culture and we must accept it. We had earlier informed members of the public that very importantly is the social and physical distancing.
“Social Distancing is making the transmission of the virus very difficult, because a virus coming from the body, going into another person’s body is being ineffective in terms of transmission if Social Distancing is maintained.
“If we abide by personal hygiene and obey the protocol of COVID-19 in the state, then we will be able to move around freely without transmission.
“Everybody in Kano must use the face mask. We are distributing this house-to-house. We are producing more. We are going to ensure wider and deeper distribution of these materials.
“This is an important occasion for the launching and distribution of over two million face masks to the people across the 44 Local Government Areas. For now, we are starting with the eight Local Government Areas within the Kano metropolis.
“This measure is part of the preventive capacity which the state government is building against COVID-19 pandemic.
“Tailors across the state will be engaged by the government for the production of the material. We will mandate them to bring samples for the mass production so that the distribution will be widely and effectively implemented.
“We request you to be diligent and plan how you will distribute these materials effectively. We have already recruited 1000 Sanitation Vanguards that will engage in the distribution of the materials in the eight Local Government Areas within the municipal. They will also ensure effective utilization of the face masks.
“Kano is a mega city. What is happening in Kano is not different from what is happening in other mega cities across the world.
“We must contain this virus, we must fight this virus. We must break the chain of transmission across and within the communities. But this is not possible without the use of face mask and other preventive materials and measures.”
Ganduje who said the Kano abbatoir will be open Mondays and Thursdays so that people can slaughter their animals, however, said security operatives and health experts would be deployed to monitor activities there, just like other designated markets.
Commissioners and Special Advisers from Ganduje’s cabinet were selected to supervise the distribution of the face mask and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) across the Local Government Areas
The AUTHORITY reports that the distribution programme, would later be held in the eight metropolitan local government areas of the state under the supervision/monitoring by political office holders as follows:
Muktar Ishaq Yakasai and Barr. Ibrahim Mukhtar, Commissioner of Special Duties and Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice respectively-Municipal local government.
Commissioner for religious affairs, Dr. Tahar Adamu and his counterpart in the Ministry of Finance, Shehu Na’Allah Kura have been posted to monitor the distribution exercise in Dala local government.
The rest are Sadiq Aminu Wali, commissioner, water resources and that of the ministry of housing transport, Barr. Lawan Abdullahi Musa who to supervise the programme in Nassarawa local government.
Muhammad Sa’idu Kiru and Aliyu Tumfafi, commissioner education and Special Adviser Grassroots respectively have been posted to Tarauni.
Others are Nura Muhammad Dankadai, commissioner planning and budget and Masur Is a Gawuna, Special Adviser, Deputy Governor’s Office to monitor the exercise in Gwale local government.
Those to supervise the exercise in Kumbotso local government are the commissioner for rural and community development, Musa Ilyasu Kwankwaso and his counterpart in the ministry of commerce, Mahmud Muhammad Dansantsi.
Commissioner for local government and that of youth and sports development, Murtala Sule Garo and Kabiru Ado Lakwaya are to supervise in Ungogo local government.
In Fagge local government, the commissioner for higher education, Dr. Mariya Mahmud Bunkure and the Special Adviser on religious affairs, Ali Baba Muhammad monitored the exercise.
