The Speaker of the Kano State House of
Assembly, Hamisu Chidari, is one of
more than 200 travellers who were
recently declared ‘wanted’ by the
Nigerian government for allegedly
violating new protocols put in place to
halt the spread of coronavirus in the
country.
Mr Chidari had reportedly returned to
Nigeria via the Nnamdi Azikiwe
International Airport, Abuja, from Saudi
Arabia through an Ethiopian airline on
May 17, 2021. He was, however, said to
have reportedly presented a
coronavirus test result “which was
found to be fake” by the health
authorities in Nigeria.
Sources who are privy to the
development but declined to be quoted,
described the speaker’s conduct as
“embarrassing and condescending.”
One of the sources, who spoke with a
PREMIUM TIMES on the phone, said;
“From the airport, he was conveyed to
the National Women Development
Centre along with others where they
were expected to be observed for seven
days before they could be certified to
be free to mingle with Nigerians. And if
otherwise, they could be referred for
further procedures.
“But when the speaker got to the centre
he said he did not like the place and
offered to isolate himself at the Nicon
Luxury Hotel in Abuja. But he never
did. He betrayed the authority’s trust
by escaping to unknown whereabouts
since that day and so he couldn’t be
observed.”
Mr Chidari, with passport number,
B50022050, was listed as number 66 on
the list of 132 violators which was
released and publicised on Thursday by
the Presidential Steering Committee on
COVID-19. The committee is headed by
the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Boss Mustapha.
The committee had earlier on May 23
published the first batch of the list of
violators containing 90 names. The list
had included some Indians who were
declared as uncategorised violators.
Attempts to reach speaker
PREMIUM TIMES made numerous
attempts to reach out to the speaker
through official channels and associates
for his comments but these were not
fruitful. Also, the speaker does not have
a spokesperson.
But the spokesperson to the Kano State
House of Assembly, Uba Abdullahi, who
offered to help get his reaction said
though he was unsure of the speaker’s
itinerary within the stipulated period,
“he would have expected the
committee to have called on the
speaker personally before making
public the allegation”.
On Sunday, Mr Abdullahi said he would
reach out to the speaker “for his own
side of the story” and promised to get
back to PREMIUM TIMES. He is yet to
do so as of Monday morning when this
story was filed.
He, however, said; “The presidential
committee, since they are effective in
all ramifications across the country,
why didn’t they call him first of all?
And the subsequent issue is that since
he came back from such a trip, why
didn’t you as a journalist
‘corresponded’ directly to him? So, now
that is how many days that you said he
did not respond, you are trying to
respond.”
Mr Abdullahi later advised the reporter
to visit him in Kano “directly so that we
can talk.”
But when he was asked to reply via the
telephone channel, the spokesman said
he would try to find out the details
from officials of the assembly “who
might have the details of the
information required”.
“But you should know that the
parliamentary staff association is on
strike and it would be difficult to get
any official. So I will have to see the
speaker himself, and also the clerk of
the house. So I will get back to you,” he
added.
SGF
Meanwhile, when asked whether the
committee reached out to the speaker
before making public the allegation, the
spokesman for the office of the SGF,
Willy Bassey, said his office was only
requested to make the list public.
“I wouldn’t know who are on the list,
and I am not sure many people did. I
think it only reflects the sincerity of the
committee in executing the task,” he
said on the phone.
The director of port health service at
the federal ministry of health, Jeffery
Okatubor, also declined comment on
the matter, saying he would need to
secure the approval of the ministry’s
permanent secretary before he could
make any comment.
Mr Chidari was
elected the speaker on
December 15, 2020
following the resignation of his
predecessor, AbdlAziz Gafasa.
New protocols
On May 1, the Nigerian government
issued a fresh travel advisory for
passengers arriving the country from
three countries that were described as
“restricted” following the discovery of
new variants and subsequent spike
being recorded in the coronavirus
infections in these nations.
The countries are Brazil, Turkey and
India.
The protocol, which took effect on May
4, noted that “passengers arriving from/
or that have visited any of these three
countries within fourteen (14) days
prior to the visit to Nigeria, are
required to follow mandatory arrival
quarantine and testing protocols in
designated facilities.”
The precautionary measures, the
committee said, were necessary steps
aimed at mitigating the risk of
importation of variants of concern and
“break the chain of transmission to the
population.”
But on May 23, the committee described
as shocking, the decision by some
identified travellers to evade the
protocols.
The statement read in part; “The
Presidential Steering Committee (PSC)
has, however, observed that while most
of the arriving passengers dutifully
observed the guidelines, some
(Nigerians and foreigners) have violated
them in contravention of the provisions
of the CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
HEALTH REGULATIONS PROTECTION,
2021. Accordingly, the underlisted
persons who arrived in Nigeria between
8th May 2021 and 15th May 2021
through the Murtala Muhammed
International Airport, Lagos and
Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport,
Abuja, and whose names and passport
numbers are displayed, have been
declared Persons of Interest (POI) on
account of posing considerable danger
to overall public health and for the
violation of Nigeria COVID-19 travel
protocol by evading the mandatory 7-
day quarantine for persons arriving
from restricted countries.”
The government, therefore, called on
Nigerians to beware of the individuals,
declaring them as persons of interest
who “constitute an immediate health
hazard to the society.”
“They must therefore transport
themselves safely, to the nearest state
public health departments within 48hrs
of this notice for immediate evaluation
and call the Port Health Services,
Federal Ministry of Health on
08036134672 or 08032461990 for further
directions,” the statement added.
‘Punishment awaiting offenders’
The committee said the offenders
would not be treated with kid gloves,
accusing them of frustrating the efforts
of committed Nigerians in the fight
against the spread of the disease.
The committee, therefore, said the
concerned violators shall face
regulatory sanctions including but not
limited to, “disabling their travel
passports for a period not less than one
year; cancelation of visas or permits of
foreigners that have abused our
hospitality; and prosecution under the
2021 Health Protection Regulations.”
Lagos blows hot
Meanwhile, the Lagos State government
has reeled out punishment awaiting the
identified offenders who reportedly
entered the state through the Muritala
Muhammed International Airport.
Addressing journalists at the weekend,
the state’s commissioner for health,
Akin Abayomi, said any Nigerian found
on the list would have his or her
passport deactivated for a minimum of
one year, and in the case of foreigners,
their resident permits would be
withdrawn and that they would be
deported.
Mr Abayomi added that all the
violators would also face the penalties
of the Coronavirus Pandemic Law 2021
of Lagos State, which could lead to one-
year imprisonment term and a fine of
N500,000.
He said; “We have isolated 433
passengers in our various accredited
hotels and facilities; 262 are in isolation
and 154 passengers have been
discharged with a negative COVID-19
test. Nine have tested positive and
successfully isolated to prevent
community transmission. Of the
remaining 135 passengers, 119 have
refused isolation and 16 are
unaccounted for.
“The families of those that have refused
to be isolated should appeal to their
loved ones to return for testing and
isolation.”
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/464787-exclusive-nigerian-govt-declares-kano-assembly-speaker-wanted-for-violating-covid-19-travel-protocol.html

We all know such speaker that broke the COVID protocol won’t be apprehended

No be from North again
Na their papa they rule

Did he offend Gandollars?

Confusion

Lead by example

Till we hear from him

kinzation:
We all know such speaker that broke the COVID protocol won’t be apprehended

No be from North again
Na their papa they rule

welcome to northocracy

Where Nepotism
Kidnapping
Banditry are order of the day

Mecka:
welcome to northocracy