The Kogi government says the state is COVID-19 free.

In a statement on Wednesday, Saka Haruna Audu, Kogi health commissioner, said the state government has developed “full testing capacity” and “conducted hundreds of tests” which have come back negative.

This position is contrary to that of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The centre said two people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the state.

In the statement, Audu said the state would not be a party “to any fictitious COVID-19 claims”.

“Kogi State till this very moment is Covid-19 free. We have developed the full testing capacity and have conducted hundreds of tests so far which have come back negative,” he said.

“We have also continued to insist that we will not be a party to any fictitious COVID-19 claims which is why we do not recognise any COVID-19 test conducted by any Kogite outside the boundaries of the State except those initiated by us.

“Any attempt to force us to announce a case of COVID-19 will be vehemently rejected.”

The commissioner asked residents of the state to continue to take all necessary precautions to prevent a spread of the disease.

“We are more than prepared to secure the life of our people and have no interest in playing politics with their health concerns,” he said.

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But Kingsley Fanwo, commissioner for information, said the state was evaluating the situation and gathering the facts.

”We cannot comment on the claims for now. We got to know like every other person. So we are evaluating the situation and gathering the facts,” he said.

”When we have all the facts and information, we will communicate our position adequately and appropriately. Public health is a thing of great interest to the administration. Our people should remain calm as we gather the facts.”

There was a controversy after the first visit of NCDC officials to the state. Yahaya Bello, the governor, had ordered the officials to leave the state or be quarantined for 14 days.

The centre said Kogi had only conducted one test, but the state claimed it had done 111 tests that turned out negative.

Osagie Ehanire, minister of health, said a second trip by NCDC officials would be successful.

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, on Wednesday, said the increasing number of new COVID-19 cases may have an overwhelming effect on the nation’s health system. 

Mr Ehanire said this while addressing journalists at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) briefing on COVID-19 in Abuja.

While noting that there was an increased adherence to the advisories during the Salah celebration, the health minister, however, expressed concerns about the increasing cases, as this can have an overwhelming effect on the health system.

He said currently the nation has a little above five thousand beds, adding that there is an urgent need to expand the bed spaces in the treatment centres as the numbers increase.

As regards the low key celebration of children’s day, Mr Ehanire said the precautionary measures taken do not in any way downplay the importance of the Nigerian child.

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The minister also spokes about measures taken to curb the spread of the virus, hinting that sector by sector-specific advisories have been developed ahead of the next phase of the ease of lockdown.

He further revealed that he had a meeting with traditional medical practitioners who are working on herbal solutions for COVID-19.

According to him, some of the outcomes of that meeting show that the difficulties in getting certification by NAFDAC, patent rights and funding are some of their major concerns why many of the researchers are not coming out.

Mr Ehanire said while the government is anxious about finding a cure for the disease, the government will not jeopardize the lives of citizens.

He advised that Nigerians need to practice prevention methods until a cure or vaccine is found.