Ace broadcaster, Ayinde Soaga tests positive for COVID-19

An astute broadcaster and general manager of Nigerian Television Authority, (NTA), Katsina, Ayinde Soaga, has tested positive for COVID-19 infection.

Meanwhile, the Katsina State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the situation. The group also sympathised with Mr Ayinde, his family, the NTA Chapel of NUJ as well as the entire journalists in the State over this unfortunate incident.

A statement issued by the Chairman NUJ, Katsina state Council, Tukur Dan-Ali, reads: “We hereby remind our members in Katsina State to be cautious and continue to take all precautionary measures during coverage of events and while delivering their services everywhere as journalists.

“This, of course indicated the fact that journalists are, exposed to danger in this hard period of rampage spread of COVID-19 pandemic every where in Nigeria particularly in most affected States including Katsina.

“The NUJ strongly believed that Alh. Ayinde Suaga contracted the coronavirus as a result of his day to day service as Journalist and leader of NTA Katsina.”

Dan-Ali further stressed that, “We equally observed that there was no time in the recent history of Katsina State that the Media House in Katsina and their workers needed support from government and non-governmental organizations than now.

“Katsina State government and other stakeholders should as a matter of urgency provide Media Organisations and all the practicing journalists with Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs,) and other needed support to continue with the hard work of journalism practice during this pandemic period.

“We thanked Katsina State government as well as its special task force on Covid 19 for for working round the clock to control the spread of the pandemic.”