Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa has come out to call for more test kits across the country for fast identification of COVID-19 cases.

He revealed this today in Asaba while inaugurating an Isolation Centre built and donated to Delta Government by NNPC/Agip Joint Venture under the auspices of the Oil and Gas Industry Covid-19 Medical Infrastructure.

According to him, there is an urgent need for test kits in Nigeria because the results we want amid the pandemic would only be possible with simultaneous testing in all the states.

He added that early and continuous testing will simplify the process of identifying those affected and will also ensure quick contact-tracing to curb the spread of the deadly virus.

His words, “We are happy with the interventions of the operators of the oil and gas sector with Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and wish that there is an interface with the Nigerian Governors Forum for the states to be given what they need to fight Covid-19.

“As a State, we have no fewer than 30 ventilators and so far, it is only one case that we have had to use ventilators.

“The earlier we are able to get test kits in all the states of the federation, the better because if you watch the trend, some states are no longer testing for the virus and by the time they resume testing, the cases must have spread.

“Early and continuous testing makes it easy to identify those affected and also ensure quick contact-tracing.

“The earlier we get enough test kits across the country, the better for the management of Covid-19.”

“We are very worried about the security implications of moving the Nigerian Gas Company from Delta; we have assured the communities that such will not happen as we do not want a situation where they will feel that we do not care about them.

“At present, we have a good relationship with the oil companies, which has given a boost to oil output; we have called on oil companies to relocate their headquarters to Delta and will not want the gas company to be moved.”