Minister of information and culture Lai Mohammed says he did not contract COVID-19 contrary to reports.
Premium Times had reported on Saturday that COVID-19 was ravaging the Presidential Villa. The online newspaper said Mohammed as well as several other government officials including the permanent secretary, State House, Tijani Umar; the president’s aide-de-camp, Yusuf Dodo; his chief security officer, Aliyu Musa, and his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, had contracted the virus.
While Shehu confirmed his positive status, Mohammed said he did not contract the deadly virus.
The information minister wondered how he could be said to be in isolation and still be allowed to attend the federal executive council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, the extraordinary meeting of FEC on Thursday and the inauguration of the new minister of state for works and housing Muazu Sambo on Friday.
“I read the story and we still have a great battle on our hands on fake news and mischievous reporting,” said Mohammed. “I was in the public view on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I was at FEC on Wednesday. I coordinated press briefing on Thursday for the extraordinary EFC meeting. And the minister of power and I addressed media.
“On Friday, I witnessed the swearing-in for minister of state for power after which we had a security meeting. How can someone who has had such high level engagements for three days consecutively be ill?
“It is nothing but fake news. I am hale and hearty. Not only that, I have taken the two doses of the vaccine. I have also taken the Pfizer booster. I am a member of PSC and I am hale and hearty and I am performing at optimum level.”
