As the fast manner coronavirus spreads in Kano State continues to spark anxiety, Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has donated a mobile testing centre to the government.
Dangote is a native of the populous state, with the government expressing relief at the donation and saying the centre had the capacity to test 400 people for COVID-19 daily.
Mr Abba Anwar, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje, made this known in a statement in Kano, on Saturday.
Anwar said that the donation was announced by Ganduje during a briefing of the State Task Force on COVID-19, held at the Government House, Kano.
He said: “As we are targeting more Testing Centres in the state, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has donated a Mobile Testing Centre with the capacity to test 400 people daily. The facility is coming to Kano on Monday, May 4.
“Rising cases of positive COVID-19 patients, is a thing of great concern to the governor.
“Though we are aware that with the bouncing back of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Testing Centre, which has the capacity to test 88 samples per day and the testing centre at Bayero University, Kano, that can test 20 persons daily, there will be a rise in identified positive cases.”
Meanwhile, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has directed a limited relaxation of the COVID-19 lockdown order in the state, allowing some degree of movements on Mondays and Thursdays.
The governor gave the directive through a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Abba Anwar, on Saturday in Kano.
Ganduje said the relaxation would be on Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on those days.
“With the consent of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Kano State Government hereby relaxes the lockdown order and allows movement on Mondays and Thursdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day,” the governor said.
He also urged the public to always maintain and observe COVID-19 safety measures, as given by health professionals, while carrying out their activities.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the governor restated that all other COVID-19 measures remained in place, especially social distancing and gathering.
He however revealed that, within the time for the relaxation of the lockdown order, all markets must remain closed.
“This is with the exception of Yankaba market, where perishable items are sold, and Yan Lemo market, where fruits are sold.”
