₦airaland Forum

XEC COVID-19 Variant: Federal Government Confirms No Cases in Nigeria

By Lara Adejoro, Tosin Oyediran

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has clarified that there is no evidence of the strain of the newly detected COVID Variant XEC in Nigeria.

The assurance comes as the variant, first reported in Australia, spreads to 29 countries, raising alarms over its heightened virulence, PUNCH Online earlier reported that the FG warned.

In a press release issued on Saturday but dated Friday by the ministry’s Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, Alaba Balogun, the ministry addressed circulating misinformation about a supposed resurgence of COVID-19 in the country.

“The good news is that there is no evidence of COVID variant XEC in Nigeria,” the statement confirmed, urging the public to disregard rumours fuelled by a letter with reference number DHS/INSPDIV/017/VOL1/46, which has been widely shared online.

The ministry emphasised that the public should remain calm, adhere to universal health precautions, and rely on verified information from official sources.

“In light of the above, the general public is advised not to panic but to continue with the universal precautions of observing personal hygiene, including regular washing of hands,” Balogun stated.

To mitigate potential risks, the Federal Government has ramped up its preparedness across Federal Tertiary Hospitals and border entry points. These measures include establishing molecular laboratories, isolation centres, and intensive care units equipped with ventilators.

“The Federal Government has proactively upgraded our Federal Tertiary Hospitals to ensure uninterrupted healthcare delivery to all Nigerians in the event of a disease outbreak,” the release added.

The ministry has also intensified surveillance at Nigeria’s borders and entry points to detect and address any potential cases of the variant, reassuring Nigerians that proactive measures are in place to safeguard public health.

This statement stated that the announcement is a call for vigilance, not alarm, as Nigeria remains free of the new variant.

“Citizens are encouraged to continue their daily activities without disruption while prioritising hygiene and preventive health practices,” it concluded.

In November, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention advised the AU Member States to continue to enhance influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory syndrome surveillance to monitor SARS-CoV-2 cases and emerging variants.

It said the XEC variant is a subvariant of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain and was first reported in May 2024. It is currently being monitored by the health authorities in other regions.

Africa CDC stated that XEC has been detected in 43 countries across Europe, Asia, and North America.

“In Africa, Botswana reported 1 XEC case from a hospitalised European traveller. However, there is limited testing and sequencing than before, making it difficult to know the spread of XEC variant in Africa,” it noted.

A 14-year-old boy, identified as Malik Kareem, was reportedly beheaded for ritual in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Saturday.

The incident that occurred at the Olorisaoko community in the Akinyele Local Government Area of the state on Saturday evening has thrown the whole area into confusion.

Investigations by PUNCH Online correspondent revealed that the victim recently wrote his final subject for the West Africa Examination Council at Iyana Community Grammar School, Olode, Moniya, Ibadan.

Multiple sources who spoke to our correspondent on Sunday said the victim, alongside his three other age groups, contacted a Muslim cleric, now at large, for a money ritual on that day.

The source said that unknown to him (the victim), the three other boys had bargained with the cleric to kill him for a money ritual.

Credible family sources said, “I was at home when one of my brothers ran to the house to inform me about the unfortunate incident. We quickly rushed down to the place to confirm it. When we got there, the Muslim cleric had already run away, but we found the victim’s lifeless body on the ground without a head.

“He was found in a pool of blood in that Islamic cleric’s house. The head has already been cremated.

“The other three boys had earlier bargained with the cleric that they would use their friend for a money ritual. So, when they got there, he (the victim) was strangulated to death, beheaded and cremated. They will be using it to take pap every day, according to what they told us.”

Another informed family source said, “The cleric house has been set ablaze by yet-to-be-identified youths in the area.”

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, said investigations had already commenced on the incident.

“Investigations have commenced on the incident, and you will be updated accordingly”, he stated.