*The Presidency explains the test kits being issued for free at the Aso Villa gate, is a temporary measure against the backdrop of the recent spike in the number of cases of the COVID-19 virus in Nigeria

Alexander Davis | 绿帽献妻

Sequel to the recent confirmation of some aides of President Muhammadu Buhari testing positive for the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Presidency has announced that visitors to the Presidential Villa, in Abuja, FCT, would be required to take rapid COVID tests before gaining entrance.

Malam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Media and Publicity, Monday, January 3, 2022, explained that the new development is not unusual, as it is a growing practise in government offices in other countries of the world.

The presidential aide disclosed that every visitor, including state governors, are required to take the COVID-19 rapid test before entry into the Presidential Villa, reports Channels TV.

Shehu explained that the test kits, which are issued for free at the gate, is a temporary measure against the backdrop of the recent spike in the number of cases of the COVID-19 virus in the country.

He stated: 鈥淵es, a new regime of COVID-19 regulation has been put in place for all visitors to the Villa, not for Governors alone.

鈥淓very visitor to the Villa, not just those seeing the President, is now required to do a rapid test at the gate.

鈥淭he kits are freely issued so no one is required to make payment. This is purely temporary in view of the recent spike in cases and will be removed any moment the situation abates. It鈥檚 a growing practice in government offices in many countries.鈥�

Malam Shehu also noted: 鈥淎lthough some exceptions have been made for a few leaders in government coming from outside the Villa, they too are encouraged to do those tests.

鈥淭his policy has rightfully been justified following the discovery of COVID-19 positivity in some of those tested since the last few days of the practice.鈥�

Recall that after some aides of President Buhari were said to have tested positive for the virus last week, Shehu had announced that he tested positive for COVID, and subsequently went into isolation.

The aide later announced via a Facebook post that he had recovered from the damaging virus.

Similarly, Mohammed Bello, Honourable Minister for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in a statement, Friday, December 31, 2021, wrote that he tested positive for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, recent reports have indicated that Nigeria has recorded a steady rise in COVID infections in what has been confirmed as the 鈥渇ourth wave鈥� of the pandemic by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, Director-General of NCDC, December 2021, said the country had recorded a 500 percent increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases over the past weeks, reportedly caused by the Delta and Omicron variants of the virus.

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