COVID-19: Kano may overtake Lagos

By Saheed Ibrahim

There were speculations among Nigerians that the Northern part of Nigeria, especially Kano, is the most fragile area in the country for the coronavirus pandemic to spread sporadically.

Despite these speculations and warnings, Kano state Governor, Alhaji Ganduje and those who make up his cabinet did not heed these warnings. He once allowed people could go about their normal activities and Friday Juma’at prayer was allowed for Muslims in the state.

Uninterestingly, Kano state lost over 600 people within few days to a killer disease suspected to be COVID-19 but the Governor of the state claimed the faceless deaths were due to Malaria, Diabetes and other diseases. There has been no official health report to confirm the true face of the killer disease but most people believe it is the cold hand of the current global virus that visited the state.

There were reports of unknown deaths in Jigawa and Yobe states as well, states that share similar characteristics with Kano.

With the rate at which the virus spreads in Kano state cum inadequate health facilities and measures put in place to contain the virus, should the pandemic persists for a longer time, Kano may take over the “epicentre” title from Lagos state and the deaths in the state may be uncountable.

Despite the rising figure in the state, the governor still made a request to the Federal Government to ease lockdown in the state in order to allow Kano residents shop for Ramadan. A very insensitive request I must say.

With the unskilled nature of those in the helms of affairs in the state, the nature of residents and modes of daily activities, Kano state is the current runner up with over 750 cases, among the worst hit states by the coronavirus in Nigeria, behind Lagos state.

Kano state is similar in nature to the Southern part of Ondo state, which comprises, Okitipupo, Irele, Odigbo and Ese Odo Local Government Areas. The similarities between the two areas borders on occupation, communal life and records of crises.

The people of this area are predominantly fish farmers and traders. The Southern part of the Sunshine state is regarded as the economic hub of the sunshine state. It currently houses the Ore Industrial Hub, the Free Trade Zone and the oil producing areas, among others.

The executive governor of the state, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, due to the economic importance of this area to the state, proclaimed “The Southern Part of Ondo state is the hidden treasure of the state”. This, he made during the Public Hearing on Ondo State Security Outfit, code named Amotekun early this year.

This lends credence to the importance of this area to the survival of the people of the Sunshine state.

       What then is the fate of the people of this area in these days of the coronavirus pandemic? This is a virus that has not only crumbled the world economy but has also brought “human togetherness” on its knees.

Like most Kano state residents, who initially considered the pandemic as unserious before calamity struck, the people of the coastal area have not been taking the preventive measures, especially on social distancing, put in place by the Governor of the state, Arakunrin Akeredolu seriously.

I had thought the compliance to the directives of the state governor and health officials cut across the Sunshine state but I discovered I was wrong when I visited the Southern part of the state this month.

It was a normal day at work and as a journalist; you can be called on at any time for an assignment. This assignment was to go to Igbokoda for an assignment and this day falls on the same day the for “Pare” market in the area, although I never knew at first.

The first awful sight I beheld on my way was at Ondo town when I saw a “beer parlour” opened for business and some men were there drinking. This pub in question is located right by the road side. What an effrontery! I mused.

Business activities in the town was almost 100% normal, unlike in the state capital where most shops are closed. I continued to wonder if the inhabitants of the town were aware of the current situation in the country.

The situation at Ore was not different from that of Ondo city, if not worse. Most businesses opened as usual and there was heavy vehicular movement on the new flyover to the point that a traffic warden was there to control traffic.

I thought I had seen it all until I got to Igbokoda. Although some of the shops were under lock, the community was bubbling. This day fell on the day the “Pare” market was on. Commercial vehicles from different parts of the state were teeming into the town, with many of them not complying with the social distance regulations put in place in the state in term of the regulated number of passengers.

The way the people of this economic hub of the state treat social and physical distancing is not what is recommended. To be candid, life is normal in this area and this normalcy is the major cause for concern.

To worsen the situation, there are about 8 different routes on our water ways and one of Ondo state is also connected to Lagos state, the epicentre, by water.

Lest I forget to mention, Northern immigrants are many in this region, especially Ore. I lost count of how many trailers I saw, with lots of young Hausas on each one.

Ondo state currently has 19 cases, many of which were imported or smuggled into the state. Majority of these cases were found in Akure, the capital city.

Just like Kano, should this virus gets to this region of Ondo state, there may be doom as it will spread like wildfire. This is owing to the communal life of these people, mode of trading on daily basis and most importantly, the belief that the virus does not exist; a belief held by many people in the region.

A man in his late 20s expressed this in his dialect thus “They said there is coro in Nigeria. we are just deceiving ourselves. There is no coro anywhere”. Even in the capital city where there are lots of educated and exposed residents, some people still hold the belief that Coronavirus in Ondo state is a hoax.

As much efforts are being put in place to secure Ondo landed borders to prevent immigration at this critical time, there is need to do more in the mandate area.

Additionally, there is need for intensive orientation and sensitisation efforts in the South. Traditional and political leaders need to up their games and talk to their people in the language they understand.

It is noteworthy that incessant crises: protests and agitations in this area will exacerbate the spread of the virus should it find its way there.

Whatever is causing these crises need to be checkmated. Without coronavirus, crisis breeds no development and this is one of the reasons for underdevelopment of this area.