We need relief, our region has 54 percent of Coronavirus cases - Northern Governors

Northern Governors have appealed to the federal government again for relief for the region which according to them, has about 54 percent of the total COVID-19 cases recorded in the country.

The appeal was made in a communique issued after the Northern States Governors Forum held a teleconference on Wednesday May 20. Simon Lalong, chairman of the forum and governor of Plateau state presided over the meeting.

The Governors who revealed that they have recorded “appreciable” progress in relocation of Almajiri kids to their home states, said they followed laid-down protocol for “profiling, quarantining, testing, transportation, handing and taking over as well as reintegration”.

The communique reads in part;

“The Governors also maintained their earlier decision to purchase COVID-19 Mobile Testing Vans which have already been ordered to boost testing of more citizens especially in the rural areas.

“On enforcing closure of inter-state boundary roads, the Northern Governors again expressed disappointment that despite several measures taken, including Presidential orders, there are still violations where people move from one State to another through compromise and use of illegal routes.

“The forum resolved to continue their appeal to the Federal Government for support to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, as the northern region now has about 54% of the national cases and 70 percent of new infections.”

As at May 20, Nigeria has recorded 6,677 cases of the disease; 1,840 patients have been discharged, while 200 have died.