Idris Ahmed, Lokoja.
Officials of the National Centre for Disease Control on Thursday fled Kogi state followings insistence by the state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, that they should subject themselves to COVID 19 test before engaging or performing their duties in the state.
A statement issued on Thursday by the state Commissioner of Information and Communications Kingsley Fanwo, said that the Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello ordered that the officials of NCDC be subjected to COVID-19 test and as well be quarantined before they be allowed to perform their duties.
“It was drama today at the Kogi state Government House as Officials of the National Centre for Disease Control sent to ascertain the COVID 19 status flee the state”.
Kogi state is among the two states that are yet to record any case of COVID 19 in the federation. The officials of the NCDC, said they were in the state to assist in responding to the challenges posed by the pandemic
Fanwo explained that one of the officials Dr Andrew Noah was ordered by the governor to be isolated, fled the state to avoid test and quarantine
The Commissioner said the NCDC officials said they were not ready to be tested and went back to Abuja, asking “why the NCDC Officials feared being tested?
How will they encourage people to test when its own officials are afraid of test?. This is sad”, Fanwo said.
He said NCDC will have a lot to explain as to why its officials refused to test for COVID 19, How can we be sure of their status?.
What was their intention?. “The officials that came have done an integrity blow to the works of the NCDC, is there something they are hiding?
Its time NCDC open up and apologise to the good people of Kogi state.
The Commissioner therefore advised the NCDC to discipline its officials for violating its rule.
“The Commissioner enthusiastically said today the Governor showed the statesmanship in him once again by appreciating the support of the NCDC and defending the health interests of his people.
“NCDC quarantined the Chinese Professionals that came to give them technical support and also took their samples for test. It is a normal practice and protocols set by NCDC.
