The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control [NCDC], Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, on Monday said the South-East geopolitical region was not conducting enough COVID-19 tests, noting that it was responsible for the fewer number of confirmed cases in the zone.

Ihekweazu stated this at the press briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.

The NCDC director- general, while responding to a question, said there was no reason why the South-East should not have more cases than it had because of the itinerant nature of the Igbo.

Ihekweazu was responding to a question on Abia State, which recorded 67 COVID-19 cases on Sunday bringing the total figure to 85.

The Abia State Government on Monday confirmed that the state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, had tested positive for COVID-19.

As of Sunday night, the six states in the South-West had recorded a total of 6,607 cases; South-East, 315 cases; South-South, 956 cases; North-West, 2,267 cases; North- East, 976 cases and North-Central, 422 cases.

As of June 2 which was the last date the NCDC released test figures on its website, South-West had conducted 30,056 tests; South-East, 1,723; South-South, 4,992 tests; North -West, 12,797 tests; North-East, 6,509 tests and North Central, 4,156.

But on Monday, the NCDC DG said the centre was not surprised by the upsurge in COVID-19 cases in Abia State.

He said,

“We were in a way surprised and not too surprised because we know that the testing numbers in the South-East have been low and this has been an advocacy point for me.

“We have reached out to all the states in the South-East. We know the people in the South-East travel a lot and there is no reason why there won’t be more cases there given the tendency to travel.”

Ihekweazu noted that the PTF was worried about the insufficient data emanating from the region, adding that with improved testing capacity, more infections would be recorded.

According to him, more cases will enable the government to isolate the patients from the rest of society and prevent further infections.

He noted,

“From the very beginning, we were always worried about the insufficient data coming out from the South-East. Initially, it was thought to be about testing, but we have improved access to testing capacity now.

“Yes, we have seen the number of cases being reported from Abia; I think that’s a good thing because the more you identify the number of cases, you are then able to institute and prioritise the measures you need to prevent further cases.

“You are able to exclude them from the rest of society, make sure they don’t transmit to others.”

The NCDC director said he observed a renewed vigour in the Abia State health workers during a virtual meeting with state epidemiologists last week.

He further encouraged every state to be proactive, noting that higher cases did not mean a state was not handling the pandemic well.

“Nobody is criticizing Lagos for having half of the cases in the country; in fact, we praise them for doing well because they have responded effectively. That is really what we want to encourage every state to do,” Ihekweazu stated.

The NCDC chief disclosed that the government was discussing with the World Bank on high intervention programmes which were expected to strengthen the healthcare system in the country and build the capacity of health workers.

Reacting to allegations of financial impropriety levelled against the NCDC, Ihekweazu said that the centre would account for the money it spent.