The Presidency on Wednesday revealed that members of staff working around President Muhammadu Buhari, were routinely tested for coronavirus.
Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity who made the disclosure in a statement titled, ‘Ignore scaremongers –Presidency’, said the routine tests were conducted based on directives of doctors and scientists.
The presidential aide was reacting to a report by an online news medium which he said reported that Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Social Affairs and Domestic Matters, Sarki Abba, tested positive for COVID-19.
He said contrary to the report, Abba has always been testing negative for coronavirus during the routine tests.
The statement read; “The Presidency wishes to advise Nigerians to ignore determined agents of fake news bent on spreading false stories to the public.
“We react to the utter falsehood and disgraceful lies, a report by so-called digital newspaper, which Wednesday, claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide, Sarki Abba is COVID-19 positive.
“Upon the directive of doctors and scientists and supervision of Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, the Chief of Staff, all staff working for and around the President, are routinely and rigorously checked for the virus. The Senior Special Assistant, Social Affairs and Domestic Matters, Sarki Abba, always tested negative.”
