Kano State is the most populous state in not just Nigeria, but Sub Sahara Africa.
Today, Kano is in the news for the rising case of coronavirus that has claimed thousands of life across the world. In fact, today alone, Kano lost prominent, impactful and professionally accomplished citizens; economists, bankers, editors, educationists et al.
Since the spike of the virus in Kano, I have read some people make jest of the state, it's people and leadership. But this is at their own peril.

Sadly, many did not acknowledge or not aware of the State Government efforts long before the index case to ensure it curtail the spread of coronavirus. In the whole nineteen northern states, you can hardly get the type of resources put into health facilities in the last five years like Kano; building on the efforts of the last eight years before this last five. But the population of Kano State is more tha one geo political region combined.

The one many detractors rue the most, is the alleged demand of support of 15 billion naira from the federal government by the state. What is wrong with that.
You may not know. Kano is more populous than Lagos. But we see the support Lagos has so far gotten from the Federal Government, corporate organisations, well to do individuals et al; financial, equipment, medications etc. This has help Lagos to better handle the situation and give it hope. But not so Kano.
Kano remains a commercial hub in Nigeria probably second to Lagos. 15 billion naira as support to battle this pandemic in Kano is just a drop in water. It needs far beyond this.

In case you dont know, of the last four cases of COVID-19 in Kaduna, two are from Kano. The index in Jigawa is from Kano. The index case in Adamawa is from Kano. The index case in Plateau is from Kano. Only God knows how many more cases in other northern states and beyond are imported from Kano.

In the last few weeks, articulated vehicles from, especially Lagos has continued to ferry human cargoes to Kano, some with their motorcycles. Stand at Mondo in Kaduna, Kwangila in Zaria and various entry points into Kano and you will understand the spike in COVID-19 in Kano and other northern states.
When few weeks back we were shouting about non existent testing centres in the north, some jestifully browbeat us on this street. Now the reality stare us in the face.
Kano alone should have nothing less than three well equipped State of the art testing centres. But as we write this, the only testing centre at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital is also in a lockdown with varied reasons being bandied around.
Kaduna would have been like Kano today or worst. But thanks to the proactive nature of the two women leading the fight; Dr Hadiza Sabowa Balarabe and Dr Amina Muhammed Baloni; Deputy Governor and Health Commissioner respectively.
I have spoken to few medical doctors who said the strategies and proactiveness of these two women is saving Kaduna. But even that did not stopped the two cases imported into the state from Kano.
So, as we battle the coronavirus pandemic with Kano spiking now, making jest of Kano, the people, and its leadership may be at your own peril.
This pandemic knows no physical, ethnic, religious, political or geographic boundary. Not even a language is a barrier for coronavirus. How many of the world population outside Wuhan in China speak Chinese? But COVID-19 is all over the world today.
In fact, COVID-19 is fast turning the world most powerful President, Donald Trump to a maniac zombie, a political confusionist and a strategic failure; which may even cost him his re-election.
Kano populace may not be as enlighten as next door Kaduna, not with that Corona football tournament we have seen, or a market or markets that are more infection grounds. Not even with the neighouhoods that make physical/
social distancing near impossible.
Let's work, act, think, pray for Kano to overcome this pandemic, so that we can overcome it too.
Booting Kano when we should be rooting for it, is rueing our own existence. It is booting humanity. We can ill afford that now.
May God intercede and save humanity from this COVID-19.
Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir
25 April, 2020
02 Ramadan, 1414
Kaduna.