By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 in Nigeria, Mr Boss Mustapha, has praised Governor of Kano State, Mr Abdullahi Ganduje, for the way he has handled the pandemic in the state.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, Mr Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), said he was impressed with the way the Governor has managed the situation.
“The proactive leadership of the Kano State Governor in the management of emerging challenges is highly commendable,” Mr Mustapha said yesterday.
“I wish to use this opportunity to reassure all Nigerians resident in Kano that the federal government and particularly this PTF is with them and shall do all possible to fight the spread in the state as directed by the President. Kano is one of our historical cities and remains a backbone for the economy of this nation,” he added.
The SGF said members of the task force was still having engagements with the Kano state government in the collaborative effort to fight the spread of the virus.
According to him, “The high-level technical team sent to Kano on Monday has already submitted its Interim Report.”
He said the PTF will transport to Kano medical equipment like 2 Oxygen Concentration and 3 Ventilators;
280 Protective gowns; 51 face shields; 538 examination gloves; 25 boot covers; medical masks and surgical caps; and IR Thermometers.
Mr Mustapha said the already established isolation and treatment centres with holding capacity for 274 persons, the proposed establishment of additional facilities with capacity for 500, 2 Sample Collection centres along with 6 new proposed centres have provided a strong foundation for tackling the spread of the virus in the state.
“Similarly, the Nigerian Military, under its COVID-19 response plan, will establish an additional isolation Centre, Treatment facility and a Testing Laboratory Service in Kano State.”
“The PTF COVID-19, in the immediate, would further strengthen Kano state to scale-up its response with the provision of necessary facilities and equipment, capacity building, improving stakeholder inter-phase and guidance on any existing policy capable of diminishing the fight against the pandemic in the state. Already, the testing laboratories in the AKTH and the BUK have become fully functional,” he added.
Adedapo Adesanya