No senator tested positive to coronavirus, says health c’ttee chairman

Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe (APC Kwara Central), declared on Tuesday that no senator has been tested positive of Coronavirus 2019, COVID-19 pandemic as been reported in some sections of the media.

This is even as he informed that the entire National Assembly complex would be fumigated against the deadly disease as well as other viruses and bacteria.

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, Oloriegbe also denied reports that some senators shunned medical screening at the airport on arrival from foreign countries, adding that the purported letter to that effect alleged to have emanated from the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari is fake.

The alleged refusal of some lawmakers to subject themselves to medical screening at airports on arrival at the airports, was widely reported in some sections of the media which also alleged that about 10 senators have been tested positive for the COVID-19.

But Oloriegbe, who was flanked by the Senate spokesman, Godiya Akwashiki (APC Nasarawa North) at the briefing, said both the Nigeria Center for Diseases Control, NCDC and security operatives at the airports have confirmed that no lawmaker  refused to be subjected to COVID-19 test.

Describing as fake and misleading, Oloriegbe said there was no letter addressed to Senate President Ahmad Lawan by Chief of Staff  to the President that  some lawmakers had  refused to get tested at the airport.

He said contrary to reports  that some senators who returned from abroad  had handshakes with their colleagues, Oloriegbe said: “Since a week ago, there was no form of handshaking in the Senate.

“You should not follow fake news on the social media, we saw the letter, it is fake.

“No senator has refused any test, and since last last week, there was no handshaking in the Senate.

“The criteria for testing is that if you have symptoms or have contact, you will be tested, that is why the Senate want the Federal Government to expand the testing criteria but as at yesterday, the NCDC has acquired more new testing kits.

“The critical issued to us is about Nigerians, not about senators alone.

“I can tell you that no senator has tested positive to coronavirus and none has also refused to be tested as being speculated,” Oloriegbe stated.

He said the Senate at its closed session had urged the federal government to provide  fund to state governments to contain the COVID-19 spread in the country.

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