Governor Yahaya Bello
In reaction to the Presidential Task Force’s position on COVID-19 about the risk of travelling to Kogi State, the State Governor, Yahaya Bello has hinted that he may take legal action against the PTF and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC.
Earlier, the PTF had labelled Kogi as one of the states with a high-risk destination following Governor Bello’s refusal to acknowledge the existence of COVID-19.
The PTF also accused the Governor of refusing to let tests be conducted in Kogi and failing to build isolation centres.
Reacting to the warning issued by the PTF, Governor Bello’s spokesman, Kingsley Fanwo accused the PTF and the NCDC of trying to discourage investors from coming to the state.
Fanwo opined that Kogi emerged the investment destination of Nigeria in the last quarter of 2020 despite what he described as the unreliable COVID-19 figures announced by the NCDC.
He further accused the agency of attempting to create a picture of the health crisis in Kogi state.
Fanwo, who is also the information commissioner, further claimed that the Bello-led administration had done more sensitisation on COVID-19 than any other state.
However, you will recall that Governor Bello had warned Nigerians not to accept COVID-19 vaccines.
Everyevery.ng reported that the PTF warned Nigerians against travelling to Kogi, Yobe, Jigawa, Zamfara and Kebbi States.
Also, the PTF National Incident Manager, Mukhtar Muhammed said it would not hesitate to shut down schools in the country should there be a spike in COVID-19 cases recorded in Nigeria.