The Kogi State Government has faulted the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NDDC), insisting that the state is free from COVID-19.
The health agency had announced the state’s first two cases on Wednesday night as part of the country’s new 389 infections.
As it stands, Cross River is the only state yet to record a positive case.
However, in a statement by Health Commissioner, Saka Haruna Audu, the state government said developed “full testing capacity” and “conducted hundreds of tests” which have come back negative.
Audu added 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.
Governor Yahaya Bello 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.
Health Minister Osagie Ehanire assured that a second trip by NCDC officials would be successful.
