TheCable

Abba Kyari, chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, has written to the national assembly leadership over the refusal of some of its members to subject themselves to the mandatory screening for COVID-19 at the airports. 

Since the outbreak of coronavirus in the country, measures have been put in place at airports to screen people coming into the country. 

In a letter dated March 21 seen by TheCable and addressed separately to Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house, Kyari asked the national assembly leadership to direct all its members who just returned from foreign trips to submit themselves for the COVID-19 test.

“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,” the letter read. 

“As you are aware, these airport screenings are our primary line of defense and refusal by any citizen to subject to these tests is a threat to our nation. 

“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 centre with immediate effect.” 

On Thursday, the house said it was not considering suspending plenary amid the coronavirus outbreak.