Kano Residents Doubt Existence Of #COVID19, Violate NCDC Guidelines

For months, confusion and conjecture surrounded the story of mysterious deaths in Kano state, which happened at the height of the Coronavirus pandemic in April 2020. The actual causes of the deaths remain contentious subject till date in Kano.

After the verbal autopsy was conducted and the results showed some of the deaths were as a result of Covid-19, many residents still doubt the existence of COVID19 in Kano State.

A report by Channels TV on 2I April revealed that over 150 corpses were buried in Kano state, weeks after the lockdown measures were imposed by the Kano state government, which has recently been eased without enforcing the NCDC guidelines on residents.

Kano state government has made provisions of Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday as lockdown ease days, but it’s unfortunate the remaining lockdown days are being violated by residents.

Despite the guidelines given by the Federal and state government of wearing a face mask, observing social distance, washing and sanitizing of hand. But a large number of residents are not complying with the precautionary measures, most public places and gathering are not provided with hand sanitizers and water, all these guidelines are largely forgotten.

HumAngle conducted a question and answers survey to feel the residents’ perspectives.

What is your name? My name is Ibrahim Ilyasu Ibrahim of Kwari Market.

Are there not conditions guiding movement in this market? Yea, actually before they made a law of wearing face mask compulsory, by Hisbah but at a time they stop supervising our movements. And to be frank, I still not believe coronavirus is real. Because every day we are executing our daily activities and nothing has happened to me.

Why are you in the face mask?

My name is Garba Dandago; I use to wear a face mask before, but of recent, I dropped it. Why did you ignore wearing of face mask? I personally ignored wearing of face mask due to security personnel are not more enforcing any guidelines on us, this made some to believe the virus is just a scam by the government. I believed the virus exists but I leave everything in the hand of the Maker (God)

My name is Bashir Garba Ahmed CSO of Mobile Market, Farm Center. what makes me stop using facemask is because I vividly disagree with the coronavirus, because a medical doctor said it on freedom radio that even malaria is more pandemic than this virus, so with that statement, I disbelieve with the virus, and stop adhering to the government guidelines.

Do you use to wash your hands? Yes, I use to wash my hands when it comes to ablution, so it is not coronavirus that will teach us how to wash or sanitize our hands. Our culture and religion have taught us already.

What can you say about violating NCDC guideline?

Mukthar Muhmmad Bichi a resident of Gaida Kumbosto said; people are tired with the fake numbers of COVID-19, and coronavirus is the citizen’s problem because there are many other diseases that are more harmful than the virus such as, typhoid, malaria, diabetes and the rest.

Personally I asked a lot of people whether they have seen or had any relative that is contracted with the virus? The outcome is no.

What makes you stop wearing a face mask? I stopped wearing a face mask due to I found it difficult to breathe while I am in the face mask.

Are you not scared to be contracted with the virus? Indeed, I am not scared to be contracted with the virus, because since when government open markets and religious centres there were no much cases recorded. And also they said we should observe social distancing in religious centres but our politicians use to breach the rule while engaging in their political activities, so who is fooling who?

Maryam Auwalub a resident of Dorayi quarters said; since when the government declared lockdown at phase I complied and follow the guidelines, wearing of face mask, washing of hands and maintaining good health, likewise when government ease the lockdown and gave free days I use to go out to perform my daily activities.

I have hand sanitizer in my shop that my customers must sanitize their hands before any business relations start, and also they must wear a face mask because health is the pride of humanity.

I don’t entertain customers that refused to adhere to the Kano State Task Force Committee on Covid-19 guidelines, and also Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday which are still lockdown days I maintain the government order and stay at home.

It is so worrisome to see residents violating the guidelines and also the securities don’t use to perform their function rather than collecting tokens from violaters.

Amina Abdullahi a resident of Kabuga quarters said; I am observing social distancing most especially when I am in a public gathering, but due to markets here in Kano are congested and lacks coordination from either the securities or leaders of that particular markets, I tried as much as possible to use Facemask, hand gloves and also I use to walk along with my hand sanitizer whenever I touched a surface I apply it.

Many people lives and health is in danger seeing about 80% of Kano residents are not practising the precautionary measures stated by the government due to their belief that they haven’t seen any patient of this coronavirus, which is the wrong belief from citizens not complying with the guidelines governing the pandemic.

I will advise the government to use the carrot and stick approach on residents if not the virus will silently spread and kill more people unknowingly

It so alarming to see that most of the residents in Kano are not observing and abiding by the government guidelines concerning Covid-19.

However, it was of a recent report from Presidential Task Force Committee on Covid-19 revealed that two local government areas namely Nasarawa and Tarauni scores the top 20 local government that increases 60 per cent of COVID-19 in Nigeria.