Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso said his
government is working to deal with the
issue of female suicide bombers
The Kano State Government has named a
committee to strategize on how to prevent
the spread of the deadly Ebola virus to the
state.
The committee was set up following the
death in Lagos of a Liberian, Patrick Sawyer,
last Tuesday, in what was the the first
recorded Ebola case in the country.
The governor of Kano, Rabi’u Kwankwaso,
hinted this while meeting with Kano Elders
at Africa House, Government House, Kano on
Saturday.
Ebola has killed over 700 people in Guinea,
Liberia and Sierra Leone since February this
year.
The symptoms of the disease include
headache, high fever, vomiting, diarrhoea,
bleeding and central nervous system
damage. It has no known cure or vaccine.
Mr. Kwankwaso’s spokesperson, Baba
Dantiye, said the government of Kano state
is particularly concerned about the diseases
and its spread, because the state is the most
populous in Nigeria and is the country’s
second largest commercial centre with
regular influx of traders from within the
West African sub-region.
The state is also home to one of Nigeria’s
international airports, Aminu Kano
International Airport.
Mr. Kwankwaso said the committee is
expected to present its report next
Wednesday and urged citizens of the state
to avoid being infected by the virus by
paying more attention to personal hygiene
as well as reporting health problems to the
nearest authority for immediate action.
He further stated that his administration has
concluded plans to recruit additional
medical doctors from abroad to widen
access to health services, adding that the
government is already providing facilities
and medical consumables in health centres
across the state.
He also said the government is designing
new ways of tackling female suicide
bombing recently recorded in the state,
pointing out that the new tactics adopted by
the Boko Haram sect has caused colossal
loss of lives and property.
As a result, Mr. Kwankwaso said his
government, Kano Emirate Council, security
agencies and general public must put hands
together to address the issue, pointing out
that people should not hesitate to report
any suspicious person and objects to the
nearest security agents in their own
interest.
The governor also urged people in the state
to ensure that their children acquire sound
formal and religious education, pointing out
that illiteracy is a major factor that results in
insurgency and other negative activities in
the society. He then thanked the people for
devoting time to prayers asking God, the
Almighty, to bring an end to the insurgency
in the state.
The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II,
while speaking equally lamented that the
insecurity bedevilling the state and the
nation could be tackled if the people are
adequately enlightened and provided with
jobs to sustain their lives.
Some of the contributors during the
meeting advised the state government to
revive local government Security Council
meetings.