NCDC: Nontransparency And The Example Of Kwadon Isolation Center -By Aliyu Danladi

Recently, I watched a video of a journalist Dalhatu Musa Ezekiel who, like every concerned Nigerian, lamented the manner in which NCDC is handling cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria. He said ” The NCDC and the Government are in the front line of the war against Coronavirus, while Nigerians are the foot soldiers. In every war, there ought to be transparency. Soldiers need to know what is going on, only then the war will be easier.”

Mr. Ezekiel cited example of Sen. Bala Muhammad, Governor of Bauchi State, submitting himself to test after Atiku’s son, whom he had contact with, tested positive to Coronavirus. Through publishing Atiku’s son’s name as a victim, all those who had contact with him submitted themselves for test; therefore, transparency had eased the whole process. But subsequently, NCDC embarked on a nontransparent manner of fighting COVID-19, said Mr. Ezekiel, by releasing figures without any details.

Mr. Ezekiel was also worried that the NCDC might be cooking up figures, as COVID-19 cases in Nigeria escalate at an unbelievable rate every day. I am also shocked by the rising numbers considering the paucity of testing centers in Nigeria. Figures are released more than tests could be carried out. Mr. Ezekiel described the testing process, as they witnessed it in Garki, as a tedious process, thereby, further arousing doubt to NCDC daily reports.

Back to Kwadon, where COVID-19 patients staged a protest together with townspeople. I am sure had the event not received an international broadcast by TVC, thus generation attention to it, the NCDC would by now have declared most of the people of the town Corona-positive. But to my surprise, even as of yesterday, 7 May, Gombe State Government was advising the people of Kwadon to submit themselves for tests. I thought Corona testing was easy and rapid considering rate of daily figures!

If figures will emanate from unnamed, unknown and unsuspected places, why won’t the same figures come from Kwadon, where “COVID-19 patients” interacted with the locals? There is a simple hypothesis to explain that: figures would have come from Kwadon if not for international attention generated by the protest and the unconforming attitude of Kwadon people. They would have immediately denounced it and claim they were not tested.

Finally, those patients who themselves have denied being infected with COVID-19 after waiting for 2 weeks for unrevealed symptoms, as they claimed, have been returned to the isolation center. But one thing remains in the streets: doubt on COVID-19 figures.

The NCDC can save its face by subsequently releasing details on every case. This will save efforts in fighting the war, just as Mr. Ezekiel declared.

Thank you. My opinion.

Please share to help in the fight for transparency.