COVID-19: Bello declares two-week lockdown in Kogi LG

The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has declared a two-week lockdown in the Kabba Local Government Area of the state to allow for contact tracing.

This follows the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control’s  announcement that it had recorded two positive cases of COVID-19 in the local government area.

Kabba/Bunu is in the Kogi West Senatorial District of the state.

The governor said although the state government had a reservation about the NCDC declaration concerning the disease, it was locking down the area as a proactive step in case of eventualities.

He, however, described as suspicious the declaration that two cases were recorded, saying, “The NCDC did not carry the health officials in the state along in the investigation prior to the so called confirmation.”

Recall that the centre had last week announced that Kogi State had recorded two cases of Covid-19 for the first time since the pandemic was first reported in March.

Since then, the state government at different fora had denied the claim, saying there was no evidence that the disease existed in the state.

Bello  said that he could not understand what the NCDC intended to gain by insisting that every state must have the disease.

He called on security operatives in the state to ensure that the lockdown is effectively enforced while the media should help to monitor the situation.

He promised adequate palliatives to cushion the effect of the lockdown to allow for proper contact tracing.

“I do not enjoy lockdown as know the economic social and even health implications of such decisions, but we have to take proactive step and provide effective leadership in ensure that our people are safe,” the governor said.