The Kogi government says the state is COVID-19 free.
In a statement on Wednesday, Saka Haruna Audu, Kogi health
commissioner, said the state government has developed “full testing
capacity” and “conducted hundreds of tests” which have come back
negative.
This position is contrary to that of the Nigeria Centre for
Disease Control (NCDC). The centre said two people have tested
positive for COVID-19 in the state.
In the statement, Audu said the state would not be a party “to
any fictitious COVID-19 claims”.
“Kogi State till this very moment is Covid-19 free. We have
developed full testing capacity and have conducted hundreds of
tests so far which have come back negative,” he said.
“We have also continued to insist that we will not be a party to
any fictitious COVID-19 claims which is why we do not recognise any
COVID-19 test conducted by any Kogite outside the boundaries of the
State except those initiated by us.
“Any attempt to force us to announce a case of COVID-19 will be
vehemently rejected.”
The commissioner asked residents of the state to continue to
take all necessary precautions to prevent a spread of the
disease.
“We are more than prepared to secure the life of our people and
have no interest in playing politics with their health concerns,”
he said.
There was a controversy after the first visit of NCDC officials
to the state. Yahaya Bello, the governor, had ordered the officials
to leave the state or be quarantined for 14 days.
The centre said Kogi had only conducted one test, but the state
claimed it had done 111 tests that turned out negative.
Osagie Ehanire, minister of health, said a second trip by NCDC
officials would be successful.
The Kogi government says the state is COVID-19 free.
In a statement on Wednesday, Saka Haruna Audu, Kogi health
commissioner, said the state government has developed “full testing
capacity” and “conducted hundreds of tests” which have come back
negative.
This position is contrary to that of the Nigeria Centre for
Disease Control (NCDC). The centre said two people have tested
positive for COVID-19 in the state.
In the statement, Audu said the state would not be a party “to
any fictitious COVID-19 claims”.
“Kogi State till this very moment is Covid-19 free. We have
developed full testing capacity and have conducted hundreds of
tests so far which have come back negative,” he said.
“We have also continued to insist that we will not be a party to
any fictitious COVID-19 claims which is why we do not recognise any
COVID-19 test conducted by any Kogite outside the boundaries of the
State except those initiated by us.
“Any attempt to force us to announce a case of COVID-19 will be
vehemently rejected.”
The commissioner asked residents of the state to continue to
take all necessary precautions to prevent a spread of the
disease.
“We are more than prepared to secure the life of our people and
have no interest in playing politics with their health concerns,”
he said.
There was a controversy after the first visit of NCDC officials
to the state. Yahaya Bello, the governor, had ordered the officials
to leave the state or be quarantined for 14 days.
The centre said Kogi had only conducted one test, but the state
claimed it had done 111 tests that turned out negative.
Osagie Ehanire, minister of health, said a second trip by NCDC
officials would be successful.