The Government of Ogun State has denied rumours of the escape of a taxi driver who drove the the Italian citizen with coronavirus from Lagos to Ewekoro. There is viral news on social media circles that the said driver had demanded N100 million and threatened to spread the deadly virus, if not paid.

The Ogun State Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, released a statement that described the unconfirmed news as a

figment of the imagination of some unscrupulous elements whose desire is to incite fear in the members of the public.

The statement assured the inhabitants of the state that there is no reason to panic, adding that the state was working hard to control and contain the situation.

The statement further stated that everyone who had any link with the Italian citizen the dreaded coronavirus since he arrived the country has been quarantined, while others who had primary contact interactions with those people were equally being monitored.

The statement read:

We wish to put it straight that there is nothing of such. It is the figment of the imagination of some unscrupulous elements whose desire is to incite fear in the members of the public.

This period calls for sombre, responsible and responsive actions. COVID-19 is challenging the global community like no other disease in the past. The government is treating the challenge as such. How to contain and provide lasting solution to the scourge is our concern. We do not wish to dissipate energy on responding to this kind of frivolity. We all must be sensitive at this critical time in our history.

As a government, we assure that all the people already quarantined are in good spirit and they are cooperating with our medical personnel.

Besides, we already have the phone number of some few other contacts the Italian national came close to and they are being monitored.

There is no reason to panic. The situation is being controlled and contained.

It is therefore important we do what is expected of us as individuals in terms of personal hygiene and in ensuring that we sensitize those suspected of symptoms associated with COVID-19.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.