COVID – 19: FG evacuates stranded NCDC staff from Congo Brazzaville

***deploys special Air Force Flight

The Federal Government has evacuated stranded staff of the
Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), who had been drafted to Brazzaville,
the Republic of Congo, to undergo a special capacity building course with the
World Health Organization (WHO).

The medical team, according to the Nigerian Ambassador to
the Republic of the Congo, Deborah Iliya, were on a training programme to
expand their frontiers of knowledge as regards the management of Coronavirus
popularly known as COVID – 19 for their prompt deployment to the country.

She said that the medical team had been stranded following
the closure of air and land borders by Congo Brazzaville ostensibly, to contain
the spread of Coronavirus.

The Envoy in a statement on Sunday obtained by Journalists
in Abuja also commended President Muhammadu Buhari and his government  over the systemic, practical and sincere
efforts being taken to end the scourge of Coronavirus (COVID19) facing Nigeria.

The statement reads, “This message of support is at the
instance of the prompt action taken by the Presidency and the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, in deploying a special flight of the Nigerian Air force, to
convey back to the country a team of public health officials of the Nigeria Center
for Disease Control (NCDC), who had been drafted to Brazzaville, the Republic
of Congo, to undergo a special capacity building course with the World Health
Organization (WHO), a training to expand their knowledge as regards the
management of coronavirus and for their prompt deployment.

“The medical team had been stranded following the closure of
air and land borders by the host country ostensibly, for similar situation. In
the same vein, the Ambassador, on behalf of the Government of Nigeria, has
commended the government and the good people of the Republic of Congo for the
singular act of solidarity and standing on good relations by the temporal
opening of her airport to facilitate the departure of the team on March 26
2020.

“This act has in no small measure further strengthened the
bilateral harmony that exists between the two countries. Furthermore, the
President of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, has put in stringent
measures aimed at ending the spread of the virus as it has actively embarked on
sensitization campaigns, while the public has also been mobilized for strict
observation and compliance to all clinical advisory and lock down directives.

“Essential commodity stores like foods and pharmaceutical
stores are exempted, so are allowed to operate for the survival of the people.
High level of compliance as regards laid down rules, have been consistent. I
convey our concerns to all those who have been affected by the pandemic virus.

“Our hearts are with you all, while we also pray fervently
that God should grant all, speedy recovery. I urge Nigerians to rally round the
government in the fight against the deadly virus. This trying moment calls for
unity, support for each other and forging a common front against coronavirus
and all that stand against peace.”