From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has disclosed that a committee has been set up to investigate allegations of coronavirus results racketeering.
The PTF National Coordinator, Dr Sani Aliyu, said at the briefing of the taskforce in Abuja that the racketeering was illegal, endangered lives and could damage the country’s reputation.
He warned that those found to be culpable would be dealt with according to the law.
“Committee has been set up to investigate this and all those involved and found to culpable will be dealt with according to the law,” he said.
Aliyu who said the PTF would tolerate any act with the potential of putting people’s lives at risk, added that a technological means was being developed “for identifying and verifying results”.
He warned against unnecessary international travel during the upcoming Yuletide, saying with the fresh wave of the spread of dreaded virus in Europe and other places anyone on a trip to any of those places in the nearest future could be stranded.
Meanwhile, DG NCDC, Chikwe Ihekweazu, has expressed regrets that some states are still not testing enough making it difficult to understand the burden of the diseases for effective response.
He listed the states not testing enough to include; Cross Rivers, Jigawa, Kogi, Osun, Ebonyi Adamawa and Zamfara states.
“It’s important to test, to manage the outbreak and plan for vaccination”, he stressed.
Ihekweazu also noted that the FCT, Lagos and Kaduna currently has the highest cases so far.
As the year ends and festive period draws, he again urged Nigerians to maintain the Covid-19 protocols. He particularly advised against mass gatherings.
“The numbers are not looking good and we need to take this very seriously as we plan for the end of the year”, he urged.
