COVID-19: NDDC Tells Staff To Submit To Testing, Admits Having Positive Cases

*Directors Raise Questions About Honesty And Motive Of Exercise

By Kolawole Ojebisi

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in deference to the directive by the Rivers State Ministry of Health, has ordered its staff to self-isolate. According to the Commission, this is in a purported bid to curtail the spread of Corona Virus which reportedly killed the late acting executive director of Finance and Administration, Chief Ibanga Etang

This  directive was contained in a statement by Director of Corporate Affairs of the commission, Charles Odili. Odili said that the commission was working in close collaboration with the Rivers State Public Health Emergency team and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control(NCDC) ” to conduct tests for Corona Virus for members of staff and their dependents. ”

But some senior directors at the Commission are raising questions as to why COVID-19 tests have not been carried out on the family members of the late Etang if indeed those pushing for the COVID-19 test at NDDC are sincere. The directors  allege that  the NDDC IMC  may want to latch on COVID-19  test to delay their appearances and submission of critical  documents to the National Assembly’s probe committee that are investing  allegations of N40bn fraud at the NDDC leveled against the IMC and its supervisory  Ministry, Niger Delta Affairs.

However, Odili added that, though the testing exercise was still ongoing, it had already covered the offices of the Acting Managing Director and that of the Acting Executive Director of Projects. Odili admitted that a few positive results were recorded.

He said: ” The testing exercise, which is ongoing, has already covered the offices of the Acting Managing Director and that of the Acting Executive Director Projects. Unfortunately, a few positive results have been recorded. ”

He said, ” Unfortunately a few positive results have been recorded. ” He advised staff of the remaining directorates and departments to submit themselves to testing at the Medical Unit of the Commission which he said ” has been fully decontaminated.”

Odili, who said the testing would commence on Tuesday, assured the staff that testing positive for the virus ” is not a death sentence.” But many staff are curious as to why