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Why I haven’t locked down Bauchi State, by governor

By Rauf Oyewole (Bauchi) and Danjuma Michael (Katsina)
20 April 2020   |   4:06 am
Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has said that the lockdown enforced in some states due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) may kill more residents, if imposed on Bauchi.

Daura, Dutsinma residents get 1,800 bags of rice from FG
Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has said that the lockdown enforced in some states due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) may kill more residents, if imposed on Bauchi.

Mohammed, who is a survivor of the pandemic, while addressing newsmen in Bauchi yesterday, said about 95 per cent of the citizens live below poverty line.

For the state government to enforce total lockdown of the state, it must have provided palliative measures to assuage the hardship it might cause, he added.

He said while he was in isolation, he thought of locking down the state, but could not afford it.

“Even if I share state allocation on a spatial perspective to all those on universal suffrage of 18 and above who are about five million, each person won’t get more than N2,500. It is not enough to pay salary,” Mohammed noted.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has donated 1,800 bags of 50kg rice to residents of Daura and Dutsinma councils of Katsina State, to help cushion the effect of lockdown over COVID-19.

Governor Aminu Masari had, a few days ago, ordered the lockdown after some persons tested positive for the disease in the two council areas.

The state, as at yesterday morning, had a total of nine cases, with eight in Daura and one in Dutsinma.

Several people have been identified as contact cases, with their samples taken with the view to determining their status.

The state government, in its efforts to combat the disease, set up response and sensitisation committees, to raise funds as well as create awareness about the virus.

More than N240 million have been received from philanthropists and organisations, while over N172 million has been expended in the establishment of more than three isolation centres.

The bags of rice were donated through the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouk.

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