Officials of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control, NCDC, sent to Kogi State have returned to Abuja after they refused to be isolated or tested for COVID-19.
The state government has insisted that the NCDC officials sent to boost their capacity will be isolated for fourteen days and be tested in line with the protocols of the center.
Commissioner for information in the state, Kingsley Fanwo said the delegation decided to leave after a dramatic scene at the Kogi State Government House on Thursday.
He said why the officials refused to be tested was a matter of concern to the government of Kogi, calling on the centre to investigate the issue.
“It was drama today at the Kogi State Government House as officials of the National Center for Disease Control sent to ascertain the COVID-19 status flee the state ” Fanwo said.
“The Officials said they were not ready to be tested for COVID-19 and went back to Abuja. 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 protocol set by NCDC.
“So 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 are their fears? Why did NCDC send people who are afraid of test to our State? 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? It is time NCDC opened up and apologize to the good people of Kogi State. How will they encourage people to test when its own officials are afraid of test? This is sad.”
