Breaking: Babandede, CG, Immigration, COVID-19 Positive, Asks Officers To Pray For Him; UCH CMD Too

By Charles Igbo

The Coronavirus disease is, gradually, but successfully taking its toll on the leadership of Nigeria.

On Sunday, March 29, more high profile Nigerians fell victim to the disease, upping the national count to 91.

Those who made their positive status to the disease public on Sunday, March 29, are  the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Services, NIS, Muhammed Babandede, and the Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, Professor Jesse Otegbayo. Three other high profile UCH community members, including, the Chairman of the Board, also tested positive.

Announcing his status, Babandede revealed that he had followed protocol, and self-isolated as soon as he returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom, on Sunday, March 22.  He had his samples taken for testing, but exactly a week later, the result came out positive.

He has asked his officers and Nigerians to pray for him for full recovery.

Babandede: “Today, I tested positive to COVID-19.

I have been on self-isolation since my return from UK on Sunday, the 22nd, of this month, with the British Airways, in Lagos.

“I urge all my loved ones, Immigration officers, and Nigerians to pray for me and all those affected.”

And, announcing his own positive status to the disease, also, in a statement on Sunday, the  CMD, UCH,  Professor Otegbayo, was at pains to explain how he contracted it. He did not disclose his travel profile, but revealed that 12 of them had attended a Board meeting at the UCH, and observed the social distancing.

During the third day of the meeting which ought to have lasted for five days, one of them developed symptoms of the disease They called the meeting of, while the member had his sample tested.

The result came out positive, forcing other members to, also, opt for a test.  Surprisingly, four of them tested positive to COVID-19.

His words:

“On Monday 23rd March, we commenced a 12-man quarterly board meeting which was meant to last five days in the hospital. We observed social distancing and other precautionary measures for COVID-19 as much as possible.

“However, on Wednesday morning, one of us presented with what appeared to be symptoms of COVID-19. His samples were immediately taken for test, and the meeting called off.

“His results returned positive on Friday morning, and every participant (including me) immediately went into self isolation, while our samples were also taken for test.

“Unfortunately, my result returned positive on Saturday afternoon and I remain in isolation as I am not symptomatic.

“All staff who have been in contact with me, and other participants during this period have been advised to immediately proceed on self-isolation pending the time they get tested.

“COVID-19 is spreading faster than we think, and I enjoin everyone to take precautions. If one person has it, then a gathering of two becomes dangerous. Stay at home, avoid unnecessary outing, and stay safe.”

Other members of the Board who tested positive are; the Board Chairman, the provost of the College of Medicine, and the Deputy Provost.

Other prominent Nigerian who have tested positive to the Virus include, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, Governors of Bauchi and Kaduna States, Bala Mohammed and Nasir El-Rufai, respectively, and Mohammed Atiku, son of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

Nigeria has had one death –  67-year old Suleiman Achimivu, former PPMC M.D. Three persons, including the index case, an Italian, have recovered. And, according to reports, six more people have recovered and would be discharged soon.

The problem, however, has been tracking all those who have had contacts with the victims of the disease,  especially those who were on the same flights, and flew into Nigeria from countries which are already burdened. They have since made contacts with hundreds of others.