The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) have both come to an agreement over the six Coronavirus cases reportedly found in a vessel. They have now concluded that the cases were found on an oil rig, Siem Marlin.
According to the General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communication of NPA, Mr Adams Jatto, the rig was stationed offshore on the high seas and was accessed by helicopter by the Lagos State Government and NCDC.
Recall that the NPA had questioned the NCDC update showing the latest confirmed cases of COVID-19. It had stated that Lagos had 12 new cases and six of them were found on a vessel.
However, this did not go down well with the NPA, as the agency disagreed, asking for details of the vessel and terminal. The Ports Authority also said the Port Health Services had recorded no case.
As Nairametrics reported, this disagreement was seen on Twitter, as it led to stakeholders expressing concern and this, in turn, led to a meeting being held between both parties.
(READ MORE: COVID-19: NPA, NCDC disagree over new cases in Lagos)
The two parties, NPA and NCDC had reportedly held a meeting on Friday, where the centre clarified the update and said the six patients were found on the oil rig. NPA said that the concern would not have been so profound if the cases were reported to have been found on a rig.
Meanwhile, the NPA recently announced the donation of the Agura Hotels, Abuja to be used as an isolation centre for coronavirus cases in Abuja. This was made known in a tweet signed by its General Manager.
“The Nigerian Ports Authority as majority shareholders alongside other shareholders of the Agura Hotels, Abuja, have agreed to donate the 130-bed fully furnished hotel as isolation centre for COVID-19 in Abuja. This is a social responsibility initiative aimed at supporting efforts of the Federal Government to contain the spread of the virus in Nigeria.
“The Authority encourages all Nigerians to follow all advisories issued by the National Centre for Disease Control and be confident that Nigeria shall overcome,” the NPA stated.
NPA, other shareholders donate Agura Hotel as Isolation Centre pic.twitter.com/OY9m1P2QiX
— Nigerian Ports (@nigerianports) March 27, 2020