Coronavirus: Nigerian governors observe self isolation

Following the positive COVID-19 result for Chief of Staff to the President Mallam Abba Kyari and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, some of the governors who had contact with them have gone into self-isolation.

No fewer than eight ministers have also been tested to determine their status.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who self-isolated himself has tested negative to the virus. The Presidency on Wednesday confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari tested negative.


Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and his wife, Kafayat, both tested negative, the governor announced yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital.

Both Kyari and Mohammed attended high-level government meetings before the results of their test were received.

Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Godwin Obaseki (Edo) and Abubakar Sani-Bello (Niger) have gone into self-isolation.

Fayemi, who is the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) chairman, said he took Coronavirus test despite not having any of symptoms of the virus.

He however did not say the outcome of the test in the tweet in which he explained that he opted to isolate in order to protect people that may have come in contact with him.

According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, Fayemi said: “No cause for alarm, I just took this step as a normal precautionary measure.

“In the circumstance we find ourselves today, every citizen must engage in personal hygiene and take actions that can help us overcome this challenge and that is exactly what I have done.

“I had gone in contact with those having suspected cases and I felt I have to do this to help the situation…”

Adviser to Obaseki, Mr Crusoe Osagie said: “The governor has gone into self-isolation after the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed and Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, tested positive for Coronavirus.

“The governor met Senator Mohammed at the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and National Economic Council (NEC) meetings. He also visited Mr. Kyari.”

He explained that although the governor was not showing any symptoms of the virus, “he has taken the necessary precaution to self-isolate to protect people that may otherwise come in contact with him”.

Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu said Obaseki “avoided meeting with everybody, upon his arrival in Benin City from Abuja and he maintained social distance, before going into self-isolation.

Shaibu added that six persons had been isolated in the state while samples of five of them had been taken for test.

In Minna, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Sani-Bello, Mrs. Mary Noel Berje, said her boss, decided to “embark on self-isolation considering the fact that as a public figure, he must have had contact with some confirmed contact cases of COVID-19 .

“Considering the fact that I(Sani-Bello) was in Abuja the whole of last week to participate in the APC meeting with the President, the NGF meeting, NEC meeting and the World Bank breakfast meeting, as a way of leading by example, I have placed myself on isolation and waiting to be tested, along with members of my family.”

It was learnt that the governor had directed all his close aides and cabinet members to seclude themselves.

The Disease Control Unit of the Bauchi State Ministry of Health said it had directed 27 persons (mostly aides of Governor Mohammed) to self-isolate.

Twenty Osun State judges and 22 officials of Yobe State Government are currently on seclusion after returning from foreign trips.

The Director-General of Nigeria Governors’ Forum Asishana Okauru also went into seclusion having met with Bauchi State Governor Mohammed.

Okauru urged all members of the NGF and the secretariat staff invited to the last meeting of the forum to also self-isolate.

Okauru said that his wife, a former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Omoigui, and other members of his nucleus family, had also gone into self-isolation..

“I wish to inform the general public that my wife, together with my entire household, will be proceeding on self-isolation.

“We are taking this action following my exposure to His Excellency, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State who today (Tuesday) announced the positive outcome of his test for COVID-19.

“I attended different meetings of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Nigerian Economic Council last week, which were also attended by the Bauchi State Governor.

“Consequently, my wife and I would be undergoing COVID-19 testing this week.

“All members of NGF secretariat that were exposed will also be observing self-isolation. We encourage all those who were invited to the NGF meetings for presentations to also do same.

“By our actions, we hope to encourage others who are exposed and not sure of their status to undergo self-isolation and make themselves available for the test, where applicable,” he said.