Before the Chinese authority owned up to the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic in Wuhan, China, the world did not realize that a major health crisis that would quake the entire mankind was in the offing.

The Covid-19, as the World Health Organization (WHO), termed it, rose from a minor outbreak of respiratory cum cough-related disease to a pandemic that is ravaging the world, today.

The world has been literally brought to its knees by this invincible enemy. As at last count, 9th of May, 2020, global confirmed cases stood at 3.9 million, while fatalities were recorded as 276,000.

The world being a global village, covid-19, sooner than later, berthed at the shores of Nigeria on 27th February, 2020.

An Italian citizen who came into the country from Milan, was the carrier. Since then, Coronavirus pandemic has registered its footprint on almost all the states including the FCT, except Kogi and Cross River States, respectively. As at 8th of May, 2020, Nigeria had recorded 3,912 confirmed cases; 679 discharged and, sadly, total of 117 deaths. Of an approximate population of 200 million people, NCDC has been able to test only 25,000 Nigerians.

I have the habit of watching daily media briefing of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19. I must commend the Task Force and all the medical practitioners on the front line of this war against coronavirus. In one of the Presidential Task Force's updates, Director-General of NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu made a statement that rattled me.

He alluded to the fact that covid-19 would get to every state in Nigeria and urged the state governments to prepare for the eventuality. Initially, the statement came to me as precautionary, but Dr. Ihekweazu's body language as he made the shocking projection, left me in utter bewilderment.

He left the impression of certainty that the virus would reach every nook and cranny of the country. I paused and asked myself: who is NCDC working for? Are they working to curtail the virus or spread it? If indeed they're working to arrest the spread of covid-19 in the country, why was the NCDC DG so sure that it would get to every state? When I saw in the news that NCDC had a disagreement with the Cross River governor on the issue of not submitting enough samples for testing, I did not take it seriously. Then came Kogi State.

From the information out in the public, NCDC is literally mounting pressure on the Kogi State Government to submit samples of suspected coronavirus patients for testing. The big question here is: why is NCDC having a running battle with the only two states that are yet to confirm any case? When juxtaposed with the insensitive statement of NCDC's DG that covid-19 would get to every state of the federation, I can conclude without the error of assumption, that NCDC is in a hurry to register covid-19 cases for Kogi State. Do the agency want to manufacture fictitious cases for Kogi State?

NCDC alleged that they sent their officials to Lokoja to help the state government in verifying suspected cases to be considered for testing. But Kogi State is yet to ask for such assistance. The state government has categorically affirmed that there has not been any case satisfied to be forwarded to NCDC for testing. Why is NCDC crying more than the bereaved? With the suspicious moves of the agency, how are we sure that it will not be biased against the state to record any sample sent to it for testing, as positive?

Why is an agency that is visibly overwhelmed by the samples sent to it for testing, to the extent that some states wait for two to three days before getting feedback on their samples, be so much obsessed with a state like Kogi that is yet to forward sample to them for testing? When NCDC officials arrived Kogi to "assist" the state government, the governor, being suspicious of their activities in the Confluence State, insisted that the officials should be isolated for 14 days to ascertain their status regarding covid-19. The officials of NCDC returned to Abuja with the prejudiced message that Governor Yahaya Bello turned down the help they offered—while there was no need for the so-called help in the first place.

Do you offer to help a state that has not called for it? Has Kogi told NCDC that people are falling dead on the streets of Lokoja as a result of covid-19? Do you commiserate with someone that is not bereaved? It becomes hilarious and ridiculous when the same agency has shown high level of incapacitation and incompetence when it comes to meeting its responsibilities to terrified Nigerians at a time of crisis of this magnitude. NCDC fans itself in self-praise of testing 25,000 Nigerians in the last three months, while its counterpart in South Africa has tested over 100,000 within the same period. It should face its business of scaling up its testing capacity and leave Kogi State alone.

Is it a coincidence that the number of confirmed cases in the country skyrocketed when Nigerians were locked down in their homes. You lockdown Nigerians for more than one month without massive testing? As at 8th of May, 2020, out of over 25,000 tested persons, 3,912 cases were confirmed; 679 discharged and 117 deaths. Is this a result to be proud of, for a big nation like ours? Juxtapose the total number of discharged covid-19 cases with the number of deaths and it is clear that we are not doing well at all, yet NCDC had the luxury to be dancing ‘zanku’ leg work in Kogi State, in search of a non-existent covid-19 case, when lives are being lost at an alarming rate in other parts of Nigeria.

I stand with Governor Yahaya Bello for standing firm in the face of pressure from the agency to record cases for the state, while the state government continue to step up its precautionary measures against this pandemic, our ultimate goal and prayer, is that covid-19 does not get to the state. If it eventually comes, it should be real not fictitious. The mischievous actions of NCDC officials, is what is fueling the falsehood cum conspiracy theory in the minds of some people, that there is no coronavirus in the country. How do you explain to a lay man in the street the rational behind NCDC complain that states like Kogi are not sending in enough samples for testing, when the need has not arisen. NCDC should stop its questionable mission in Kogi.

By Dr. Abubakar Mohammed

https://www.thecable.ng/covid-19-ncdcs-questionable-mission-in-kogi/

That man above me don Sabi Nigeria Colour finish...

South Africa tested almost 400,000 now.

someone will just wake up one day and type one long rubbish, end it with a Dr name to deceive the ignorant ones

OP!!! I agree with you on your write up.
I was also shocked the day the NCDC said "Corona virus will surely get to all states in Nigeria". Since that day, I started suspecting that those guys at NCDC have a mission to accomplish with support from within and outside the country.

How can you make sure a statement in public not even once and Nigerians will not suspect you.

If you look at some countries that also have this virus, you would realize that it is not the entire country that is affected.

Lastly, not as if I doubt the presence of the virus in Nigeria. But I doubt the daily figures generated by NCDC without showing us any proof on TV as it is done worldwide and the general hysteria accompanying this virus.

For about two months and still counting, the fatality rate is still not bad as compared to developed countries, that is even if NCDC are giving us the correct figures.

Yes, the virus is in Nigeria, but some top men are cashing out from this SCAMdemic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdZzWwp3c7k&t=39s

OK...let NCDC stay out of Kogi...it is their right to keep them out.

But remember Kano. Ganduje did not take the thing serious, until people started dying in his state by the dozens. Then he was screaming for NCDC (and even criticising them for not setting their lab up fast enough).

Or like Bauchi that even refused to do lockdown, now Azare is in crisis, and other parts of the state too....

This isn't a 'pride' game. This is a serious health crisis. There is a high risk that covid 19 may reach Kogi state. Not because of any sinister motive, but because Nigerians like moving around too much, and unless Kogi has been able to close off every entrance and exit, there is no way that the thing won't arrive.

Then again, I pray and hope it will not arrive.

But it pays to be vigilant. Kano was not vigilant. They went from no36 to no2 now.

questionable kwa

Their Kogi move has been very suspicious.......especially with those people saying they are forced to claim Covid 19 patients. ....anything is possible in my dear country.

This one na by fire by force Kogi must have case o. Them say nothing, leave them now ah ah

Who gives a Bleep

Ooops

If you've been to kogi state and also have knowledge of its geography...

Forget it, I'll belive monkey can speak good English than believe there's no case in that state.

ursullalinda:

Is NCDC not national, and is Kogi not in Nigeria?

I don't even know what to say...
Op just wan hit fp
See essay!

NCDC goal is to make sure Covid-19 spread to all states in Nigeria (either real or on paper) . They want Nigeria to be Covid-19 most hit black nation.
They also want Nigeria to be destabilized beyond what Buhari can see with his black shade or spectacle.

Despite being equipped with limited kits that are giving out false reading(false positive), they keep cooking up figures in their office and posting it to dogmatic Nigerians on daily basis.

This Covid-19 cabal (some ministers including snake Fashola with d Governors Forum+NCDC) will turn Nigeria upside down on Buhari's head.

HahA

TAAA MECHIE ỌNỤ!' to Dr Abubakar Muhammed.

I know you have started your propaganda against another Igbo son.

Whether you agree or not, Coro Coro is already in Kogi state.

Although I am not totally in support of NCDC actions in Kogi state, Kogi Gov should come out clean and tell us how a state like Kogi, surrounded by states with cases of coronavirus, is coronavirus free.

When Mrs Gates stated her fear concerning Africa, many Africans almost crucified her, but tell me if she has not been proven right today...

Just like religion, corona virus ended in Nigeria as a business.

I hope the author of this write up understand that NCDC is responsible for controlling infectious disease outbreak, and if eventually Kogi turns out to become an epicenter, they will be held responsible for it. Or you telling me nobody is reporting to hospitals in Kogi with cough and fever?

Submitting samples is all they ask for don't complicate things

Chai, I can't believe that someone that can register in this forum could be this foolish, when he DG of NCDC said it will reach every where, they want everyone to be responsible and adhere to its guidelines, in this way the virus will be contained, why are we this foolish in this country, is not everything u should wail about... Even USA today have more than 80k deaths and almost I. 5 million cases, every nation should be afraid and responsible, don't doubt the existence of this virus here if u don't want to be a victim.. God please heal our world

Blogphere:
I have the habit of watching daily media briefing of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19. I must commend the Task Force and all the medical practitioners on the front line of this war against coronavirus. In one of the Presidential Task Force's updates, Director-General of NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu made a statement that rattled me....

you have time

The Nigerian NCDC is now working with an agenda

Ok. Nothing is hidden under the sun my brother....I pity gullible Nigerian.

Blogsphere:
Before the Chinese authority owned up to the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic in Wuhan, China, the world did not realize that a major health crisis that would quake the entire mankind was in the offing.

The Covid-19, as the World Health Organization (WHO), termed it, rose from a minor outbreak of respiratory cum cough-related disease to a pandemic that is ravaging the world, today.

The world has been literally brought to its knees by this invincible enemy. As at last count, 9th of May, 2020, global confirmed cases stood at 3.9 million, while fatalities were recorded as 276,000.

The world being a global village, covid-19, sooner than later, berthed at the shores of Nigeria on 27th February, 2020.

An Italian citizen who came into the country from Milan, was the carrier. Since then, Coronavirus pandemic has registered its footprint on almost all the states including the FCT, except Kogi and Cross River States, respectively. As at 8th of May, 2020, Nigeria had recorded 3,912 confirmed cases; 679 discharged and, sadly, total of 117 deaths. Of an approximate population of 200 million people, NCDC has been able to test only 25,000 Nigerians.

I have the habit of watching daily media briefing of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19. I must commend the Task Force and all the medical practitioners on the front line of this war against coronavirus. In one of the Presidential Task Force's updates, Director-General of NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu made a statement that rattled me.

He alluded to the fact that covid-19 would get to every state in Nigeria and urged the state governments to prepare for the eventuality. Initially, the statement came to me as precautionary, but Dr. Ihekweazu's body language as he made the shocking projection, left me in utter bewilderment.

He left the impression of certainty that the virus would reach every nook and cranny of the country. I paused and asked myself: who is NCDC working for? Are they working to curtail the virus or spread it? If indeed they're working to arrest the spread of covid-19 in the country, why was the NCDC DG so sure that it would get to every state? When I saw in the news that NCDC had a disagreement with the Cross River governor on the issue of not submitting enough samples for testing, I did not take it seriously. Then came Kogi State.

From the information out in the public, NCDC is literally mounting pressure on the Kogi State Government to submit samples of suspected coronavirus patients for testing. The big question here is: why is NCDC having a running battle with the only two states that are yet to confirm any case? When juxtaposed with the insensitive statement of NCDC's DG that covid-19 would get to every state of the federation, I can conclude without the error of assumption, that NCDC is in a hurry to register covid-19 cases for Kogi State. Do the agency want to manufacture fictitious cases for Kogi State?

NCDC alleged that they sent their officials to Lokoja to help the state government in verifying suspected cases to be considered for testing. But Kogi State is yet to ask for such assistance. The state government has categorically affirmed that there has not been any case satisfied to be forwarded to NCDC for testing. Why is NCDC crying more than the bereaved? With the suspicious moves of the agency, how are we sure that it will not be biased against the state to record any sample sent to it for testing, as positive?

Why is an agency that is visibly overwhelmed by the samples sent to it for testing, to the extent that some states wait for two to three days before getting feedback on their samples, be so much obsessed with a state like Kogi that is yet to forward sample to them for testing? When NCDC officials arrived Kogi to "assist" the state government, the governor, being suspicious of their activities in the Confluence State, insisted that the officials should be isolated for 14 days to ascertain their status regarding covid-19. The officials of NCDC returned to Abuja with the prejudiced message that Governor Yahaya Bello turned down the help they offered—while there was no need for the so-called help in the first place.

Do you offer to help a state that has not called for it? Has Kogi told NCDC that people are falling dead on the streets of Lokoja as a result of covid-19? Do you commiserate with someone that is not bereaved? It becomes hilarious and ridiculous when the same agency has shown high level of incapacitation and incompetence when it comes to meeting its responsibilities to terrified Nigerians at a time of crisis of this magnitude. NCDC fans itself in self-praise of testing 25,000 Nigerians in the last three months, while its counterpart in South Africa has tested over 100,000 within the same period. It should face its business of scaling up its testing capacity and leave Kogi State alone.

Is it a coincidence that the number of confirmed cases in the country skyrocketed when Nigerians were locked down in their homes. You lockdown Nigerians for more than one month without massive testing? As at 8th of May, 2020, out of over 25,000 tested persons, 3,912 cases were confirmed; 679 discharged and 117 deaths. Is this a result to be proud of, for a big nation like ours? Juxtapose the total number of discharged covid-19 cases with the number of deaths and it is clear that we are not doing well at all, yet NCDC had the luxury to be dancing ‘zanku’ leg work in Kogi State, in search of a non-existent covid-19 case, when lives are being lost at an alarming rate in other parts of Nigeria.

I stand with Governor Yahaya Bello for standing firm in the face of pressure from the agency to record cases for the state, while the state government continue to step up its precautionary measures against this pandemic, our ultimate goal and prayer, is that covid-19 does not get to the state. If it eventually comes, it should be real not fictitious. The mischievous actions of NCDC officials, is what is fueling the falsehood cum conspiracy theory in the minds of some people, that there is no coronavirus in the country. How do you explain to a lay man in the street the rational behind NCDC complain that states like Kogi are not sending in enough samples for testing, when the need has not arisen. NCDC should stop its questionable mission in Kogi.

By Dr. Abubakar Mohammed

CC: lalasticlala, seun, mynd44

I think NCDC is working for WHO who is working for Bill Gates to make sure that everyone on the planet gets the vaccine.

But I might be wrong.

No wahala...until people start dying just like Yobe and Kano.

You want to isolate NCDC staff who came to work...14 days doing nothing.

Worst that the Kogi state government could have done is to test them or ask them to test themselves.

The end will tell.

Blogsphere:
Before the Chinese authority owned up to the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic in Wuhan, China, the world did not realize that a major health crisis that would quake the entire mankind was in the offing.

The Covid-19, as the World Health Organization (WHO), termed it, rose from a minor outbreak of respiratory cum cough-related disease to a pandemic that is ravaging the world, today.

The world has been literally brought to its knees by this invincible enemy. As at last count, 9th of May, 2020, global confirmed cases stood at 3.9 million, while fatalities were recorded as 276,000.

The world being a global village, covid-19, sooner than later, berthed at the shores of Nigeria on 27th February, 2020.

An Italian citizen who came into the country from Milan, was the carrier. Since then, Coronavirus pandemic has registered its footprint on almost all the states including the FCT, except Kogi and Cross River States, respectively. As at 8th of May, 2020, Nigeria had recorded 3,912 confirmed cases; 679 discharged and, sadly, total of 117 deaths. Of an approximate population of 200 million people, NCDC has been able to test only 25,000 Nigerians.

I have the habit of watching daily media briefing of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19. I must commend the Task Force and all the medical practitioners on the front line of this war against coronavirus. In one of the Presidential Task Force's updates, Director-General of NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu made a statement that rattled me.

He alluded to the fact that covid-19 would get to every state in Nigeria and urged the state governments to prepare for the eventuality. Initially, the statement came to me as precautionary, but Dr. Ihekweazu's body language as he made the shocking projection, left me in utter bewilderment.

He left the impression of certainty that the virus would reach every nook and cranny of the country. I paused and asked myself: who is NCDC working for? Are they working to curtail the virus or spread it? If indeed they're working to arrest the spread of covid-19 in the country, why was the NCDC DG so sure that it would get to every state? When I saw in the news that NCDC had a disagreement with the Cross River governor on the issue of not submitting enough samples for testing, I did not take it seriously. Then came Kogi State.

From the information out in the public, NCDC is literally mounting pressure on the Kogi State Government to submit samples of suspected coronavirus patients for testing. The big question here is: why is NCDC having a running battle with the only two states that are yet to confirm any case? When juxtaposed with the insensitive statement of NCDC's DG that covid-19 would get to every state of the federation, I can conclude without the error of assumption, that NCDC is in a hurry to register covid-19 cases for Kogi State. Do the agency want to manufacture fictitious cases for Kogi State?

NCDC alleged that they sent their officials to Lokoja to help the state government in verifying suspected cases to be considered for testing. But Kogi State is yet to ask for such assistance. The state government has categorically affirmed that there has not been any case satisfied to be forwarded to NCDC for testing. Why is NCDC crying more than the bereaved? With the suspicious moves of the agency, how are we sure that it will not be biased against the state to record any sample sent to it for testing, as positive?

Why is an agency that is visibly overwhelmed by the samples sent to it for testing, to the extent that some states wait for two to three days before getting feedback on their samples, be so much obsessed with a state like Kogi that is yet to forward sample to them for testing? When NCDC officials arrived Kogi to "assist" the state government, the governor, being suspicious of their activities in the Confluence State, insisted that the officials should be isolated for 14 days to ascertain their status regarding covid-19. The officials of NCDC returned to Abuja with the prejudiced message that Governor Yahaya Bello turned down the help they offered—while there was no need for the so-called help in the first place.

Do you offer to help a state that has not called for it? Has Kogi told NCDC that people are falling dead on the streets of Lokoja as a result of covid-19? Do you commiserate with someone that is not bereaved? It becomes hilarious and ridiculous when the same agency has shown high level of incapacitation and incompetence when it comes to meeting its responsibilities to terrified Nigerians at a time of crisis of this magnitude. NCDC fans itself in self-praise of testing 25,000 Nigerians in the last three months, while its counterpart in South Africa has tested over 100,000 within the same period. It should face its business of scaling up its testing capacity and leave Kogi State alone.

Is it a coincidence that the number of confirmed cases in the country skyrocketed when Nigerians were locked down in their homes. You lockdown Nigerians for more than one month without massive testing? As at 8th of May, 2020, out of over 25,000 tested persons, 3,912 cases were confirmed; 679 discharged and 117 deaths. Is this a result to be proud of, for a big nation like ours? Juxtapose the total number of discharged covid-19 cases with the number of deaths and it is clear that we are not doing well at all, yet NCDC had the luxury to be dancing ‘zanku’ leg work in Kogi State, in search of a non-existent covid-19 case, when lives are being lost at an alarming rate in other parts of Nigeria.

I stand with Governor Yahaya Bello for standing firm in the face of pressure from the agency to record cases for the state, while the state government continue to step up its precautionary measures against this pandemic, our ultimate goal and prayer, is that covid-19 does not get to the state. If it eventually comes, it should be real not fictitious. The mischievous actions of NCDC officials, is what is fueling the falsehood cum conspiracy theory in the minds of some people, that there is no coronavirus in the country. How do you explain to a lay man in the street the rational behind NCDC complain that states like Kogi are not sending in enough samples for testing, when the need has not arisen. NCDC should stop its questionable mission in Kogi.

By Dr. Abubakar Mohammed

CC: lalasticlala, seun, mynd44