- Ask Speaker to direct members returning from foreign trips to report to NCDC, self isolate
CHIEF of Staff to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Abba Kyari has written a strongly worded letter to the leadership of the House of Representatives urging them to direct members who returned into the country from foreign trips to subject themselves for screening at the Airport and avail themselves to the nearest Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for testing.
The Presidency in the letter, tagged confidential, expressed its displeasure to the House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila over what it termed “refusal of members of the House to subject themselves to medical screenings at the airport upon returning from foreign trips.
In same letter titled COVID-19- Airport Screening with reference number SH/COS/TP/03, dated 21st March, 2020, and addressed to the Speaker, the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari noted with displeasure that the President is in receipt of complaints about Reps members who refused to be screened for the dreaded COVID-19 at the airport after returning from abroad.
He therefore advised the Speaker to as a matter of urgent public importance direct all members who had travelled and returned to the country to immediately report themselves at the nearest Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) facility for urgent medical assessment.
The letter read: “ It has been brought to the notice of the Honorable Minister of Health recently reported to this office that some members of the House of Representatives are refusing to subject themselves to the medical screening at airports.
“As you are aware, these airport screenings are our primary line of defense and refusal by any citizen to subject to these tests is a threat to our nation.
“Accordingly, you are kindly requested to direct all members of the House of Representatives who returned to Nigeria from foreign trips to report themselves to the nearest NCDC test centre with immediate effect,†the letter read.
