COVID-19: Ganduje orders one million face masks to reduce community infection

By Gbadamosi Oladimeji

The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje has placed an order for the mass production of one million face masks as part of efforts aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19 in the state.

Governor Ganduje made this known while addressing journalists in the state on Saturday. He said the move is in line with the government’s plan to make the wearing of face masks compulsory.

“We have also directed all the 44 local governments in the state to produce face masks for their people,” the governor said.

The governor commended frontline health workers for their courage and determination in fighting the pandemic and assured them that his administration is committed to ensuring their safety.

Meanwhile, the state government has also set up 10 mobile courts to try violators of the lockdown order in the state, and has since shut all of its borders.

To ensure compliance with laid down measures, Governor Ganduje said the state has started registering constables to support the police.

According to the NCDC data, Kano State currently has 77 cases of COVID-19. However, the agency’s testing centre in the state, which is located at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital has stopped operation due to lack of testing kits.

However, since the centre halted operations, no new case has been reported for the state since April 21st. The state sends samples to the nation’s capital, Abuja, for testing.

In his briefing on Saturday, Governor Ganduje said the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 is doing its best to resuscitate the testing centre in the state.

He appealed to the Federal Government to set up additional testing centres in the state due to the number of cases it has and its population.

The governor thanked the Nigeria National Petroleum Company for the supply of an ambulance and other kits to be used in the state and assured them that they will be used judiciously.