PHOTOS: Minister, Buhari’s aide defy restriction on large gatherings amid coronavirus

Bashir Magashi, minister of defence, and Garba Shehu, spokesman to President Muhammadu Buhari, were among those in attendance at a public event in Abuja despite a restriction on large gatherings in the nation’s capital.

The event, the 2020 annual leadership lecture organised by the Barewa Old Boys Association, Abuja branch, was held in Asokoro area of the city on Saturday morning.

Although there is no case of the coronavirus in the FCT as of Saturday morning, the federal capital territory administration had joined other states to restrict large crowds to curb the spread of the disease.

Ramatu Aliyu, FCT minister of state, announced the restriction on Tuesday during a meeting with relevant agencies in the nation’s capital.

At the venue of the programme, TheCable observed that guests were asked to use hand sanitisers and their body temperature checked. But there have been cases where people are infected without showing symptoms immediately.

Sixty-four persons were present at the lecture, though 95 seats were reserved for attendees.

Below are pictures from the programme: