Opinion
COVID-19: When will the lockdown end?
By: Nura Garba
Many people around the world have continued to ask several questions with regard to the lockdown being experienced which has kept them away from daily activities. The prominent of which is when will the lockdown end in the face of coronavirus?
It is no longer news that the spread of coronavirus has infected over 2.2 million people with more than 156,000 deaths, increasing concern over the continuous spread and fatalities in the coming weeks.
With over 33,000 deaths in America, the Vice President, Mike Pence projected 130,000 deaths in the country. This has sparked more fears and apprehension despite the fact that President Donald Trump has started mapping out plans for reopening of the country’s economy in phases. But experts warn against doing that now.
Since the directive of the two-week lockdown of three states of Abuja, Lagos and Ogun as part of the roll out plans to contain the spread of the virus by the President on 30th March, 2020, the virus has continued to rear its ugly head. This forced the President to add another two-week lockdown in the three states through a national broadcast on 11th April, 2020.
As it stands on Saturday, 18th April, 2020, 493 people have been tested positive in Nigeria and 17 people were confirmed dead. This further raises more concern especially with the rapid increase in positive cases and fatalities.
One area of concern is that 20 states in the country have been affected and stakeholders have projected that in few coming weeks all states would be affected.
Many Nigerian states have followed suits with the lockdown directives because experts argued that it is the best way to contain the spread of the virus.
Testing
Nigeria’s policy is one of targeted testing. This involves identifying those who are most likely to be infected, namely those who have just come back from other countries and those they have been in contact with.
In terms of contact tracing, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has identified between six and seven thousand contacts cumulatively. The focus of last week was to improve the level of contract tracing, made easier by the lockdown.
With contact tracing, each new case tends to have about 30-40 contacts to follow up. Every contact is followed up with for 14 days. To date, about 30% of all the cases in the country have been found via contact tracing.
Even though, we cannot compare our healthcare facilities with that of US, the rate at which people are tested is alarming. This is because only a little over 5,000 people were tested and the United States has rolled out plans to test 120,000 people daily. This is one area that Nigeria should expedite action in order to establish laboratories in all states of the federation.
In South Africa, in the face of increasing local transmission—and the threat of Covid-19 spreading to the majority of the country, who are not able to afford private healthcare or testing—the National Health Laboratory Service has said that by the end of April, it will be able to process approximately 36,000 tests in 24 hours.
Africa now has more than 1,000 deaths from COVID-19, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Saturday, with Nigeria currently has nearly 500 cases of the virus.
The World Health Organization noted a 51% increase in cases in Africa and a 60% jump in deaths in the past week. But the WHO chief warned that because of a shortage of testing “it’s likely the real numbers are higher than reported.”
The Honorable Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire two days ago said that there are 12 functional COVID- 19 testing laboratories in Nigeria with a capacity to test 1,500 samples daily. This is quite unfortunate looking at the mass population. Nigeria 2020 population is estimated at 206,139,589 million people at mid -year according to United Nation data. Nigeria population is equivalent to 2.64% of the total world population. In view of this, how can we know the exact number of people with positive cases? That is why we still have somewhat inaccurate cases of covid 19 because of lack of testing laboratories.
For instance, with the population of South East and the nature of their people who usually travel outside the country and within the country especially Lagos and Abuja has far less cases of the virus compared to a single state of Kano with 27. Does it mean they conceal their people from being tested or simply put it that there are no testing facilities in the region?
This is a critical time when the country must scale up testing samples in order to identify the positive cases with a view to containing them. If care is not taken Nigeria may face one of the biggest health challenges in history.
Abba Kyari’s Death
Nigeria recorded its first high profile death on Friday, 17th April, 2020, when the Chief of Staff to the President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari died of coronavirus complications. His death has triggered more concerns in the country to the danger associated with the virus and its deadly consequences.
Abba Kyari had earlier been tested positive following a trip to Germany and Egypt, according to Nigerian media. So, too, have at least three of his staffers. Nigerian media described Kyari as “very sick,” and that he had been removed from Abuja to an infectious disease treatment center in Lagos. Kyari reportedly began coughing heavily during a meeting that included, among others, the president and vice president.
The Progressive Governors Forum has described the death of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, as a call for united action against the spread of COVID-19.
Chairman of the forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Bagudu, said this in a statement he signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja, via email, on Saturday.
Bagudu said, “The death of Mallam Abba is a further call on all Nigerians to be united in the fight against the spread of COVID-19.
“As Progressive Governors, we, on this sad day, hereby re-affirm our unconditional support to the laudable initiatives of the President Buhari-led Federal Government.”
The forum said it received news of the death of the presidential aide with heavy heart and gratitude to Allah (SWT) for a life well blessed.
The statement further read, “We, the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), join the family, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR and the nation to pray for the repose of the soul of our dear and beloved Mallam Abba Kyari. His death is a loss to the nation and the Nigerian progressive community.
“We pray to God Almighty to grant the family the fortitude to bear this heavy loss. May Allah reward all the good work of Mallam Abba, forgive his limitations and bless what he left behind.
“We call on all Nigerians, irrespective of our political, religious, ethnic, social status or any other differences, to support the Federal Government in the fight against this deadly virus.
Many Nigerians have prayed for the repose of the deceased and the family to have the fortitude to bear the loss.
Will the lockdown be relaxed?
As it is globally, many countries are extending the lockdown directive due to the rising cases of the pandemic as the situation is becoming beyond their control.
In Nigeria, with the demise of Abba Kyari and the increase in the cases to almost 500, it is unlikely that the lockdown will be relaxed. Some states are yet to record the covid-19 cases but implemented the lockdown measure. Other states with that have not taken measures should do so to contain the virus before it spreads.
Nigerians should continue to stay at home and observe social distancing as a way of precautionary measures to contain the spread of the virus. “I know the difficulties Nigerians have been facing through the lockdown,” said Mr. President in his second national broadcast last week.
The Director Centre Centre for Infectious Diseases Research (CIDR), Bayero University, Kano, Professor Isa Abubakar warned states against relaxing the lockdown, saying that it is too early and risky to do that at least for now.
In an interview with the Daily Trust Newspaper, Prof Abubakar stated that “that is categorically a very wrong step to take because we are watching what is happening across the globe. The pandemic is ravaging developed countries, many are being infected every second, and many are still dying with the disease. I do not know what informed the decision of the state governors to start relaxing the lockdown. That is ill advised,” he argued.
From the way things are going, the two-week lockdown extension given by the President Buhari on three states and similar directive imposed by some state governors in the country may be extended. Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa has extended the lockdown indefinitely.
The Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje has imposed a one-week lockdown in the state. The state has now recorded 27 cases with one death and according to health experts many cases are on the offing due to negligence and attitude of the people. “Some people in Kano still do not believe that the corona virus exists, health expert in the state said.
“This is a serious issue that must be given serious attention. We have taken drastic measures to curtail the spread of the virus,” said Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
Palliatives to the Rescue
This is the time that the government, legislators and philanthropic individuals should be up to the task by supporting the people because no one knows when the lockdown will end.
Government should consider its masses especially in northern Nigeria where most people live from hand to mouth because there will come a time when people may not understand the stay at home measures if they don’t have what to eat.
But for now, people must respect the government’s directives to stay at home, observe social distancing and wash hands regularly with sanitizers and water to avoid contracting the virus.
Only God knows when the lockdown will end, but we should pray fervently and seek Allah’s intervention to bring this pandemic to an end.
Nura Garba writes from Bayero University, Kano.
You can reach him via garbanbuk@gmail.com
By Huzaifa Dokaji
Kano is not a place you reduce to a headline or dismiss with a stereotype. It is a city with too many layers for that- too much memory, too many voices. This is the Kano of Muhammadu Rumfa, the ruler who gave it form and vision, and of Ibrahim Dabo, the scholar-king. The Kano of Kundila and Dangote, where wealth meets ingenuity.
It is the Kano the British once described as the ‘London of Africa,’ the Tripolitans praised as ‘a city like a thousand others’, each one magnificent—and its own people, knowing its complex social and ideological chemistry, named tumbin giwa, the intestine of an elephant: vast, winding, and full of hidden depths.
Kano has always carried many lives at once. It is the home of Shehu Tijjani Na Yan Mota and the sanctuary of Abdullahi dan Fodio when he felt the revolution had been betrayed. It is Madinar Mamman Shata and the home of Aminu Ala, the author of the philosophical Shahara and masterfully composed Bara a Kufai. This is the same Kano that made Dauda Kahutu Rara, the master of invective lyrics, and Rabiu Usman Baba, the Jagaban of Sha’irai.
Here, contradictions do not cancel each other, they coexist. It is the city of yan hakika and yan shari’a, of Izala and Tariqa, of Shaykh Rijiyar Lemo and of Shaykh Turi. It is the Kano where people will argue passionately about doctrine, then share tea afterward. Where silence and speech, mysticism and reform, are all part of the same long interesting yet boring conversation.
This is the Kano of the diplomatic Emir Ado Bayero and combatant Muhammad Sanusi II. Of Rabiu Kwankwaso, the red-cap-wearing jagora, and of the agreeable Ibrahim Shekarau. It is that same Kano of the incorruptible Malam Aminu Kano and Dollar-stuffing Ganduje. The cosmopolitan city of Sabo Wakilin Tauri and of the saintly Malam Ibrahim Natsugune.
If not Kano, then what other city could birth Barau Kwallon Shege, the bard of the profane, and welcome Shaykh Ibrahim Nyass, the towering saint of the mystics? Where else but Kano would you find Shaykh Nasiru Kabara- scholar and Sufi master- sharing the same cityscape with Rashida dan Daudu and all the remembered and forgotten Magajiyoyin Karuwai? This is the Kano of yan jagaliya and attajirai, of the sacred and the profane, the pulpit and the street. The Salga and of Sanya Olu and Ibedi streets. Kano has never pretended to be a city of one truth, its greatness lies in the multitude it carries.
So when people speak carelessly about Kano, they miss the point. Kano is not a relic. It is alive. It debates itself. It holds its tensions with pride. And like Adamu Adamu said, “the story of this enigmatic city is simple and straight backward – and , in the end one can only say Kano is Kano because Kano is Kano – and that’s all; for; it is its own reason for being.”
You don’t explain Kano. You respect it.
This was first published on Huzaifa Dokaji’s Facebook account.
Abdulrazak Ibrahim
During my undergraduate years in the 90s, I spent countless hours offering private lessons to the children of the affluent in Kano, especially within the Lebanese community around Bompai.
What began as a modest hustle blossomed into a wide-reaching network of tutors that spanned the city. That was just within the realm of teaching.
But as a son of Kano, my connection to the city runs far deeper. I’ve walked its pulse-literally. I would trek from BUK to Bata, soaking in the rhythm of life on every street.
I lived once in Kabara, where I was fully immersed in the city’s rich traditions, especially during the annual Durbar festivities at my late uncle’s house-he was the then Sakin Hawa of Sarkin Kano.
I watched Kano expand before my eyes.
I spent countless evenings at Wapa Cinema and served as a census enumeration officer, counting the people of Tudun Nupawa, Marmara, and Soron Dinki.
I travelled across the state-from Albasu to Zakirai-witnessing its cultural and economic breadth.
I’ve seen immigrants from across the Sahel flock to this city, drawn by its promise of life and trade.
My own town of birth, Kura-a local government in the state-is now home to some of the largest rice production and processing clusters in Africa, a true testament to Kano’s agricultural prowess and enduring relevance in food systems development.
I frequented Kofar Ruwa market, where my father’s spare parts shops were located, and where I regularly interacted with Igbo traders from across Nigeria.
I was creditworthy to the newspaper vendor at Bata and the Tuwo seller near a filling station in Kabuga.
Life in Kano was textured and vibrant
As university students, we attended musical concerts at Alliance Française and danced the night away at Disco J.
As secondary school students, we debated fiercely and won inter-secondary school quizzes and competitions, sharpening minds and building futures.
Almost every doctor, engineer, pharmacist, or scientist from Kano passed through one of our renowned science secondary schools-many of them going on to set records on both national and global stages.
Kano is not just a city-it is a living legacy. It pulses with innovation and enterprise. From agriculture to industrial production, logistics to sustainable manufacturing, food and nutrition to textiles and services, Kano is a mosaic of possibilities.
Here, livelihoods are not stumbled upon-they are forged with creativity and intent.
In this city, it’s nearly impossible not to find a means of sustenance. Kano is, indeed, abundance in motion.
Our story is not a modern miracle. Our industries and institutions are rooted in antiquity, stretching back thousands of years.
Perhaps that is why Kano is so often misunderstood-and even envied, as seen in the recent uproar sparked by a misguided, lowbrow TikToker with neither education nor depth.
From distant corners, individuals from places ravaged by material lack and intellectual barrenness often log on to the internet to hurl slurs at a people and culture they neither understand nor care to.
But we know who we are.
And we will protect that identity.
We will labour to ensure that Kano continues to flourish, to lead, and to evolve-technologically and economically-without losing its philosophical soul or cultural roots.
As Professor Uba Abdallah so wisely declared: “When a man is tired of Kano, that man is tired of life.”
And Kano-our Kano-is still full of life.
Still bold, still brilliant, still ours.
Opinion
Support for President Tinubu’s Policies and Call for the Appointment of Hisham Habib as Political Adviser
By Auwal Dankano
We, a coalition of concerned citizens and political stakeholders, express our unwavering support for the bold and decisive policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu aimed at revitalizing our nation and securing a prosperous future for all Nigerians.
President Tinubu’s commitment to economic reform, infrastructural development, and social welfare initiatives demonstrates a clear vision for progress. We commend his administration’s efforts to address the challenges facing our country, and we believe that with continued dedication and strategic leadership, Nigeria will overcome these obstacles and achieve its full potential.
In light of the recent resignation of Hakeem Baba-Ahmed as Political Adviser, we urge President Tinubu to consider the appointment of Hisham Habib as his successor. Hisham Habib is a seasoned political strategist with a proven track record of effective communication, policy analysis, and stakeholder engagement. His extensive experience and deep understanding of the Nigerian political landscape make him an ideal candidate to serve as a trusted advisor to the President.
Hisham Habib’s qualifications include: A degree in English and attended courses in politics and journalism in both local and overseas. He works with media houses up to the level of managing editor, and he was the first set of publishers of online newspapers in Nigeria.
He also served a the Director media of NNPP presidential and govarnatorial election, as well as appointed as Managing Director of Kano State own Radio station.
Many remember him as the pioneer chairman of NNPP, Kano state chapter , whose political expertise help the party win the number one seat in Kano.
As he decamped to the ruling APC, he build a strong chain , that will make our great party victorious at the fourth coming elections.
We believe that Hisham Habib’s appointment would strengthen the President’s advisory team and enhance the effective implementation of his administration’s agenda. His expertise in political strategy and his commitment to national development align perfectly with President Tinubu’s vision for Nigeria.
We call upon President Tinubu to give serious consideration to Hisham Habib’s candidacy and to appoint him as Political Adviser. We are confident that his contributions will be invaluable in advancing the President’s goals and ensuring the success of his administration.
We also want to call the attention of Mr President to consider Auwal Dankano for a national assignment. Auwal is the chairman of Rwinwin, a movement that worked tirelessly toward the success of president Tunubu in the last elections year.
Dankano is a quantity surveyor, with over two decades of field experience, and always promote APC and President Tunubu masses oriented policies.
Ha was a board member of Kano Micro finance, as well as Representative of Kano State , in Northern Governor’s Forum.
We reaffirm our unwavering support for President Tinubu and his efforts to build a stronger, more prosperous Nigeria.
Auwal Dankano
National Chairman
APC Forum of Intellectuals.
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