Lawmakers who recently returned to Nigeria from foreign trips have been instructed to subject themselves to a coronavirus, official has said.
Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari, gave this directive and expect lawmakers to comply to ensure the mitigation of the pandemic.
In a leaked memo dated March 21, 2020 addressed to Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Kyari expressed displeasure at the refusal of legislators to undergo Coronavirus checks at the country’s airports upon arriving Nigeria.
According to him, this could jeopardise all efforts put in place by government to curtail the spread of the deadly virus.
Kyari said, “It has been brought to the attention of the Honourable Minister of Health recently that some members of the House of Representatives are refusing to subject themselves to medical screening at airports.
“As you are aware, these screenings are our primary line of defence 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.”