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The Kano State Governor , Abdullahi Ganduje , has accused the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 of neglecting the state in its current efforts against the coronavirus pandemic .

Ganduje expressed his displeasures in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service , monitored by The PUNCH .

He said , “We are in a serious problem . I can tell you the situation is really bad and scary . Because what we solely rely upon in fighting the disease is the testing centre .

“ There is also a shortage of sample collection equipment . It is not common equipment that you can go and buy in the market . Those whose samples were collected are still waiting to know their fate .

“ The problem (is ) with the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 . Even its Director – General was in Kano. He spent a night here but we have not heard from him again . The Minister of Health is also aware that the laboratory is not functioning .

“ There is a serious problem . We have been complaining that Kano needs more than one testing centre , right from the beginning of this ( pandemic ). ”

When asked whether the state was not getting any support from Federal Government agencies in the fight against COVID- 19 , the governor said , “ Sincerely speaking, we are not getting deserved attention . If these equipment ( testing centres ) are under our control , we will do our best to make sure it works properly . But we are not getting the needed support and co – operation from the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 . ”

Kano State Government has said the recent deaths in the state were caused by “complications arising from hypertension , diabetes , meningitis and acute malaria ” .

The state Commissioner of Information , Muhammad Garba made this known in a statement .

He said , “ Although an investigation into the cause of the deaths is still ongoing , preliminary reports from the state Ministry of Health indicated that the deaths are not connected to the COVID- 19 pandemic. Reports have shown that most of the deaths were caused by complications arising from hypertension , diabetes , meningitis , and acute malaria . ”

“ Moreso , the state government has three modern Isolation Centres where those tested positive to COVID- 19 are being cared for . We are also hopeful of getting an additional two Isolation Centres soonest. The government has also hired a hotel where suspected cases are accommodated .

“ Also , the Kano State Government is collaborating with​ Bayero University Kano to establish a testing centre within the institution , which will be ready in two weeks time after being certified by the NCDC . This will, indeed , enhance our determination to ensure that every suspected case undergo a test . ”

The House of Representatives says it will resume plenary on Tuesday as Nigeria ’ s cases of coronavirus spread to over 30 states .

Clerk to the House, Patrick Giwa, made this known in a memo made public via Twitter .

Recalled, the House adjourned plenary on March 24 , a week before the Federal Government ordered lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja as well as Lagos and Ogun States as part of measures to curb the spread of the pandemic .

Giwa stated that the aides of the members , as well as other staff of the House, were to work from home for the time being .

He stated , “This is to inform all members of the House of Representatives that the House will now resume plenary session on Tuesday , April 28 , 2020 , at 10 am . Members are advised to take note of the new resumption date .

“ The COVID- 19 Guidelines approved by the Federal Government and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and addition Guidelines developed by the House will be sent to Members ’ pigeon holes for collection on resumption.

“ Staff and Members’ aides are to work from home and will be notified when needed for any special assignment . ”

The Minister of Health , Dr Osagie Ehanire , said President Mohammadu Buhari would determine when to lift the lockdown occasioned by the novel Coronavirus pandemic in the country.

Ehanire said this on Politics on Channels Television in Abuja .

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that on April 13 , Buhari announced a 14 – day extension of lockdown in Lagos , Abuja and Ogun states to combat the pandemic.

The i nitial 14 – day lockdown in the three states began on March 30 .

“ The President in his wisdom will decide if the lockdown will be lifted , ” he said .

The minister said that the decision to extend COVID- 19 lockdown was tailored according to the needs of every country.

“ We do think that the restriction of movement limits significantly the spread of the virus .

“ The models we have seen show that we have not gotten to the peak yet , ” he said .

Ehanire advised Nigerians that if their symptoms were not meeting the case definition of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control , officials might turn them back .

Kano State government has acknowledged recent deaths in the state, promising that the state government is on top of the situation.

This was also as it quickly said that deaths are not connected to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A statement by the Commissioner of Information, Muhammad Garba, said Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has already directed the state Ministry of Health to conduct a thorough investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the deaths.

Garba, said “although investigation into the cause of the deaths is still ongoing, preliminary report from the state Ministry of Health indicated that the deaths are not connected to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Reports from the State Ministry of Health has shown that most of the deaths were caused by complications arising from hypertension, diabetes, meningitis and acute malaria.

“Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is earnestly waiting for the final report from the State Ministry of Health so as to take necessary action.

“Governor Ganduje from the onset, demonstrated the zeal and political will to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

“Governor Ganduje’s administration has been commended from within and outside the state over the proactive measures it took towards curbing the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This explains why Kano, apart from being the most populous state, did not record a case of the pandemic until lately. Though we agree that the situation on hand currently is serious, we are not resting on our oars in taking appropriate measures to ensure that the good people of Kano state, and indeed, residents in the state protect themselves from the novel COVID-19 pandemic.

“The state government is concerned over what is happening. The Ministry of Health is already handling the situation. When they are through with the medical investigation, further necessary actions will be taken.

“I urge the good people of Kano state not to panic. Government is on top of the situation. The mystery or whatever it is will soon be unravelled,” Garba however stated.

Vanguard

The Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control , Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu , said Nigeria needed to stock more of the RNA extraction kits to cater for the expansion of its COVID- 19 testing capacity .

Writing on his twitter handle , @ Chikwe _I , Ihekweazu , he gave specification of the test kits Nigeria was looking for and preferred manufacturers .

He said , “ We ’ re desperately looking for more RNA ( Ribonucleic Acid ) extraction kits as we expand # COVID19 testing . Product : Total viral RNA extraction kits (preferably spin column and with a lysis buffer ) . Manufacturers : Qiagen , ThermoFischer , SeeGene , Inqaba , LifeRiver etc. ”

The centre earlier said it had added two more laboratories to the existing 13 laboratories established in the country, but Ihekweazu ’ s tweet raised the fear that Nigeria might lack enough kits to test suspected cases for COVID- 19 .

During a briefing of the Presidential Task Force for COVID- 19 in Abuja on Tuesday , the NCDC DG had said that the centre would increase Nigeria ’ s COVID- 19 testing capacity to 4000 per day across the country with 2000 samples to be done per day in Lagos State .

The NCDC DG’ s call for more kits came amid increasing criticisms that the centre was not responding to demands of Nigerians , who desperately sought testing .

The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ), has received briefing from the Minister of Health , Dr Osagie Ehanire ; and the Director General , Nigeria Centre for Disease Control , Chikwe Ihekweazu , on the latest development on coronavirus and the reported strange disease in Kano State .

Ehanire , who spoke to State House correspondents on the outcome of the closed – door meeting in Abuja , said they briefed the President on the activities and overall positions of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 .

The briefing of Buhari by the minister and the NCDC boss came barely 24 hours before the expiration of the 14 -day extension to a lockdown in Lagos , Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory to combat the pandemic .

The President had, on April 13 , announced a 14 – day extension to a lockdown in the three territories to combat the deadly virus .

The minister said the PTF presented to the President its advice and recommendations on way forward as regards the ongoing fight against the spread of the deadly virus in the country.

He said , “ We also brought the overall summary apposition of the Presidential Task Force which as you know comprises of not only the health ministry but other ministries. ”

According to Ehanire , the country is winning the fight against the pandemic as all relevant health institutions have agreed to work together to achieve the desired goal of defeating the novel coronavirus .

He said , “ We have developed a strong strategy as we are working with other experts groups like the NCDC and relevant health organisations . So , we are also working with the states and the governors . ”

The minister , who also spoke on the reported strange disease in Kano, said his ministry had been communicating with relevant agencies , as well as the Kano State Government with a view to addressing the health problem .

He said , “ We will continue to build up our testing strategies . At the moment , 14 testing centres have been activated across the country.

“ We want to bring the test closer to every state . Everybody is working very hard to solve this problem . I can see that some people are already procuring Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits .

“ They don ’ t work as far as we know . So , I will really recommend that we all stick to the national strategy, build on it, support its expansion and together we will get on top of the pandemic . ’’

The West African Examinations Council has denied cancelling the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination for school candidates .

The Head of National Office , WAEC, Nigeria , Mr Patrick Areghan , in a statement urged Nigerians to disregard the fake publication circulating on social media .

He said , “ Our attention has been drawn to a fake publication circulating in the social media , to the effect that the West African Examinations Council had cancelled the conduct of the WASSCE for school candidates , 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and was , therefore , set to refund the sum of N22 , 500 . 00 to candidates who had enrolled for the examination.

“ The publication is patently false and deceitful . It is nothing but the handiwork of mischief makers who are out to defraud innocent and unsuspecting candidates and their parents / guardians. This piece of news is certainly not from the West African Examinations Council . It falls short of the Council ’ s style , language and factual details . They got it all wrong .

“ The examination was supposed to start in Nigeria on April 6 , 2020 and not April 15 , 2020 , as stated by the authors. The examination fee is N13 , 950 . 00 only , not N22 , 500 . 00 . It is, therefore , not reasonable to refund candidates an amount higher than what they had paid to register for the examination. ”

Areghan added that the examination body has not announced the cancellation of the 2020 WASSCE but only announced a postponement until normalcy is restored .

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has vowed to reopen schools by September and allow many businesses to resume in a week’s time as the country emerges from a near-total shutdown.

Conte told La Repubblica newspaper that he will spell out the full details of how Italy will ease its way out of the world’s longest active coronavirus lockdown by the start of next week.

He has reportedly been presented with a cautious proposal that involves a gradual lifting of restrictions over the course of May.

Italy’s official death toll of 26,384 is Europe’s highest and only second globally to the United States.

But its number of cases has been ebbing and Italy believes its contagion rate — reported at between 0.2 and 0.7 — is low enough below the key threshold of 1.0 to try and get back to work.

“We cannot continue beyond this lockdown — we risk damaging the country’s socioeconomic fabric too much,” Conte told La Repubblica.

Italy’s schools were closed before most other businesses and will now be one of the last to reopen.

He said the return to school was filled with peril because many teachers were older and at greater risk of catching the virus.

“Schools are at the centre of our attention and will reopen in September,” the premier said.

Conte explained that resuming tuition before then involved “a very high risk of contagion”.

Ondo State has recorded another three coronavirus cases .

This occurred barely 24 hours after a policeman from Lagos State tested positive for COVID- 19 in the state .

The governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu , disclosed the new cases on his Twitter handle .

Akeredolu disclosed that one of the three new cases was one of the four suspects arrested and arraigned over the killing of Mrs Funke Olakunrin, the daughter of the leader of the Afenifere , Pa Reuben Fasoranti.

Akeredolu said , “ We have confirmed three other cases in Ondo State . One of the cases involves one of the recently arraigned suspects in the murder of Mrs Funke Olakunrin, Pa Fasoranti ’ s daughter .

“ The Commissioner of Police has been duly informed and the line tracing of police officers and others in the SARS facility , where he was kept has started and their specimens are being collected.

“ The suspect has been isolated from others and will be moved to the IDH for treatment . The commissioner of Police has assured the state that there will be adequate security around the IDH premises to prevent his escape and while on treatment , he will be manacled to the bed . ”

The governor said he will expatiate on all cases in his weekly press briefing on Monday .