Ex-federal lawmaker alerts Buhari on mass outbreak of COVID-19 in Bauchi town

A former member of the House of Representatives, Ibrahim Baba has alerted President Muhammadu Buhari on the reported mass outbreak of COVID-19 in Azare area of Bauchi state.

The ex-lawmaker in a letter dated May 8, 2020, and addressed to the President, said the proximity of Azare to Kano and Jigawa was responsible for the rising cases of COVID-19 in the town.

According to Baba, over 100 people had been reportedly killed by COVID-19 in the last one week in the area.

He urged President Buhari to direct officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to visit the town.

The letter read: “Your Excellency, Sir, I write to draw your kind attention to the massive outbreak of coronavirus in Azare town and environs in Bauchi State, which has already resulted in over 100 in the last one week, and this has thrown the entire area into great mourning, panic, and confusion.

“The centrality and proximity of Azare to Bauchi, Kano and some major cities of Jigawa states make the town’s large population susceptible to the virus due to the already existing large cases of the disease in those areas.

“And because media coverage is always largely skewed toward states capital and other more prominent cities, the ongoing horrific situation in Azare has not gotten the attention it deserves, and that’s why I want to use this privilege to appeal to you for urgent action to arrest the unpalatable situations.

READ ALSO: ActionAid targets 36,000 rural dwellers in Kogi with COVID-19 awareness campaign

“Consequently therefore, I wish to appeal to your Excellency to direct the National Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC) and the presidential Task force on COVID-19 to urgently reach out to Azare town with all the necessary facilities and palliatives to assist the communities there.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now