The Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has announced a 12- hour free period per week during the presidential lockdown order in the state occasioned by the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor explained all the major markets will remain closed except some selected supermarkets. Ganduje added that only Yankaba Market where perishable items are sold, and Yan Lemo Market, where fruits are sold, would be allowed to operate for 12hours on Mondays and Thursdays 10am to 4pm. Ganduje however warned that attendants of the markets would strictly observe the COVID-19 protocols, emphasising that the use of face-mask will be absolutely necessary in the markets.
He also warned traders to desist from hiking the prices of their commodities because of COVID-19, revealing the State Government has drafted anti-corruption agencies to monitor, arrest and prosecute traders who do. Ganduje further stated that, “from the reports we have seen, no doubt that there is mass increase of COVID-19 cases in Kano. This is an issue that people should be conscious of so that we can take the protocols very seriously.”
He added that with the help of President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Test Centre at AKTH has become operational, “although we are still taking samples to Abuja because of the low capacity of the NCDC Test Centre.”
According to Ganduje: ” the richest man in Africa, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has promised to bring a Mobile Test Centre which has the capacity of testing 400 people per day,” adding that with time, the Mobile testing will increase to testing up to 1000 people per day.
Ganduje also hinted that the Bayero University Kano (BUK) Test Centre will soon be operational. He regretted ” the set backs we have witnessed for some weeks now without Test Centre contributed to the high level of cases that Kano has recorded. Ganduje, who said that the state has increased the number of isolation centres to accommodate more patients, urged residents to strictly obey the lockdown order for their own good. He also advised people to abide by personal hygiene and observe social distancing, pointing out that, “we are happy that people are accepting the fact that COVID-19 is a reality.”
See below for Reactions from Nigerians on Twitter on the governors decision to relax the lockdown imposed by the president in the state.
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has eased the two-week lockdown imposed on Kano state by President Muhammadu Buhari in an effort to contain the spread of coronavirus among the residents by 12 hours a week.https://t.co/WmYVKL0V1R pic.twitter.com/YKVsMqiJ9w
— Daily Trust (@daily_trust) May 2, 2020
Ganduje has relaxed that lockdown that Kano badly needs and some people in there are quiet.
Please don't trend another #NCDCFailedKano if Kano's COVID-19 figures rise in the weeks to come.
— 'Fisayo Soyombo (@fisayosoyombo) May 2, 2020
Buhari locked down Kano for 2 weeks, Ganduje relaxes it after 4 days. Buhari will later claim he is not aware the Lockdown was relaxed.
— fred4U (@frediecruze) May 2, 2020
92 in Kano tonight.
But Ganduje said they should open up Kano for Ramadan shopping.The people’s governor.
— #OurFavOnlineDoc ? (@DrOlufunmilayo) May 1, 2020
Kano is next door neighbours with Kaduna. Ganduje can learn so much from El Rufai and his team.
— Dr. Dípò Awójídé (@OgbeniDipo) May 2, 2020
Calling Ganduje clueless is sheer ignorance. I know probably you do not know he has a Ph.D in public administration. https://t.co/RfO1uZ0x6Z
— Ediong (@Ediong) May 2, 2020
BREAKING: Kano State Govt Relaxes Lockdown imposed by President Buhari Announces Free Days
According to Ganduje, Mondays and Thursdays would be lockdown-free days from 10am to 4pm.#MyOpinion#COVID__19 does not Infect on Mondays and Thursdays
Ganduje thinks this is a joke pic.twitter.com/nFUR6o6dOy— Comrade ???? (@iAGB4REAL) May 2, 2020
Sanusi Lamido was dethroned as Emir of Kano by Ganduje & people laughed at him,said it was karma & mocked him.He was sent out of Kano too. Now Emir of Rano is dead & Kano is in chaos.
Prayer: Oh lord,take me away 4rm where destruction is,even when I feel like its negative to me! pic.twitter.com/GuRRujmoAI
— BlackAbraham Lincoln (@SpearsSaint) May 2, 2020
Kano people had the opportunity to get rid of Ganduje a long time ago.
But here they are, a state with a governor totally ignorant of how a state should be run during crisis
Its either Kano sees the end of Ganduje or God forbid, Ganduje sees the end of Kano
— Khal Bussie? (@iam_bussie) May 2, 2020
Kano is a unique case not because of its population but for her decision maker. Kano is not that difficult to manage like Ganduje himself. What’s the bases for this decision? Possibly he dosent believe in the whole story? pic.twitter.com/okWDmYz5yu
— Godwin ROBINSON (@OdogwuGNR) May 2, 2020