Date: April 18, 2020

As the total lockdown in Kano state enters second day, the Centre for Information Technology and Development has continued to monitor the situation in the state; how people are complying with orders and how secure the state borders are. As we all know it is only when every entry and exit point is secured can we defeat this deadly virus that is on the rise everyday and threatening our existence.

Yesterday we issued a situation report on the level of compliance of the lockdown directives given by the state government. To our total dismay, many people chose to ignored the directive and continue with their normal activities, including observing of Friday prayers in some mosques despite the threat this virus is posing to us. It should a matter of concern to all sensible persons the rate at which the number of cases being confirmed in the state is increasing on daily basis since the first recorded case. As at yesterday, the State has 27 confirmed cases including the co-chair of the task force committee on Covid19 in the state and one fatality. This is a state in which one week ago, there wasn’t a single active case. The challenge of the state has been compounded by the fact that some members of the State Taskforce have tested positive and therefore now inactive as most of them are in isolation or self-quarantine. This means that effectively there is no leadership to coordinate the efforts of the Government in responding to the challenges of the COVD 19.

The essence of imposing lockdown is to stop all movements of people including coming and going out of the state in order to stop the spread of the virus, but most importantly is stop people from entering the state from other states especially the states that are already battling with the disease.

However, reports reaching us from our partners and observers in the state indicate that still the state’s borders are so porous with little presence of security personnel which allows people to enter the state from many directions.

Despite the lockdown and the earlier order given to stop inter-state movements, travelers are still entering the state through Rano local government using a feeder road from Kwanar Dangora, Gwangwan town then to Rano town. To avoid being noticed, sometimes they follow push paths that link them to the feeder roads to Rano and pass through Rano town. Similarly, the Zakirai-Ringim border which links to Taura, Kafin Hausa, Auyo and Hadejia is also still accessible by motorists with little hindrance. Most of the travelers according to our sources are Okada Riders who are returning from Abuja, Lagos, and Shagamu. These are areas where the virus is already widely spread and the fear is that unless effective measure immediately taken, the importation of the virus will be in the increase and since these are not people will self-isolate, they would become the sources of community infections which is much more difficult to deal with.

While we commend the efforts of state government and security personnel and acknowledged the complications of these borders, we maintain that securing the borders is the best way to stop more importation of the virus into the state. It is on this note that we strongly call on the Kano State Government to as matter of urgency to ensure that border patrol is not limited to highway only. Feeder roads, including footpaths around border towns and villages,  should also be included to prevent people from bypassing authorities; adequate measures such as proper monitoring on the state’s borders to stop entering the state from any border are put in place; religious leaders fully comply with government orders and punish anyone found misleading the public. All intercepted travelers should promptly handed to the NCDC for compulsory isolation and quarantine period of two weeks after which these who tested negative can be released to continue their journey to their destination.

Ali Sabo

Campaigns and Communication Officer