NCDC boss, Chikwe Ihekweazu, has reacted to its officials leaving Kogi after the state refused help to ascertain the situation of coronavirus in the state.

The director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu, has reacted to its officials leaving Kogi after the state refused help to ascertain the situation of coronavirus in the state.

According to The Cable, Ihekweazu on Friday, May 8, in reaction to Kogi rejecting the help offered by the health agency said it was unfortunate.

It would be recalled that the NCDC delegation left Kogi state for Abuja after Governor Yahaya Bello asked them to be isolated for a period of 14 days or leave immediately.

The NCDC boss speaking at the presidential task force briefing said they can only offer help where it is wanted and that they offered assistance but it was not in a place that was appreciated.

Ihekweazu said: “We can only offer help where it is wanted. Yesterday, we offered that help but it wasn’t in a place where the help could be accepted. Unfortunately, that was what happened last night.

“The reality is that we have had a great relationship with Kogi. We have supported Kogi in every possible way, one of the first states that had an emergency operation centre supported by NCDC."

The Kogi government had earlier raised an alarm saying that the state was under pressure to declare the presence of coronavirus as the pandemic spreads across states of the federation.

With fear and concern mounting over the coronavirus status in the state, Kogi government alleged that there is an “unholy conspiracy to declare COVID-19 in all states of the federation.”

This was contained in a statement by Kingsley Fanwo, Kogi state commissioner of information and communication, who gave an update on a female expatriate rumoured to have carried coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the federal government said its effort to help Kogi ascertain its coronavirus status failed because Governor Yahaya Bello-led government did not receive the health officials sent to the state with open arms.

Speaking during the presidential task force briefing on Covid-19 on Friday, May 8, Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health, lamented the hostile reception melted at officials of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) sent to the state.

Linking the development to "some differences," the minister added that the NCDC failed to achieve its mission in Kogi, prompting the members of the disease control agency to return to Abuja.