CONVID-19: National Assembly members defy airport screening
By Suleiman Hassan
There are indications that some members of the National Assembly who are returned to Nigeria from abroad last week defied screening of passengers at the nation’s international airports while many of them on local travels also fail to adher to the rules, Irohinoodua was informed on Monday. In a memo dated March 21 and made available to our correspondent, allegedly signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Aba Kyari and addressed to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Olufemi Hakeem Gbajabiamila, the COS complained that House of Representative members were shunning requests by airport officials to screen them.
In the alleged letter, Aba Kyari quoted “It has been brought to the Honourable Minister of Health recently reported to this office that some members of the House of Representatives are refusing to subject themselves to medical screening at airports. As you are aware these airport screening are our primary line of defense and refusal by any citizen to subject to these tests is a threat to our nation.”
It noted further “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 center with immediate effect.”
“There are clear indications that some members of the National Assembly are violating the rules on Coronavirus infection. This has grave consequences for the country they are expected to provide leadership for” one health official at the Presidency told Irohinoodua. From the sign-off note, the letter may also have been sent to the Senate President Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan.