Meanwhile, the National Identity Management Commission has shut down its Lagos headquarters after one of the staff members tested positive for COVID-19.
The PUNCH learnt that the worker, who is in the customer care unit, contracted the virus last Monday.
An official, who spoke to one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity, said several workers of the agency had also been ill.
The source said, “The woman, a nursing mother working in the customer care unit, tested positive on Monday.
“Other staff have been reporting one form of illness or the other. I am not feeling well as well and hope I have not contracted the virus.”
A memo to workers of the agency, obtained by one of our correspondents, showed that the Lagos office would be shut from Monday, August 16.
The memo said, “Good day #TeamLagos. This is to officially notify all members of staff of the temporary closure of the NIMC Lagos State Office, Alausa, from Monday, August 16 to Friday, August 20, 2021, to enable management to fumigate and sanitise the offices.
“Enrolment activities will resume on Monday, August 23, 2021.
“Meanwhile, ensure you observe all COVID-19 protocols in all the LGAs/ LCDAs. You will be notified by your state coordinators immediately we get receipt of personal protective equipment from the headquarters. Please stay safe.”
Asked why it took a week after the detection for the NIMC to shut down for fumigation, our source said the NIMC headquarters just approved the request of the Lagos management.
The NIMC Public Relations Officer, Kayode Adegoke, denied knowledge of the COVID-19 case, adding that the fumigation was being done by the Lagos State Government.
He promised to call back our correspondent for further details, but had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.
Second phase vaccination begins today
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has confirmed that it will begin the second phase of COVID-19 vaccination on Monday (today).
The second phase will see the government administering the Moderna vaccine recently received in the country.
The confirmation was contained in a notice issued by the Nigeria Primary Health Care Development Agency.
“I am directed to invite you to the flag off of the second phase of COVID-19 vaccination exercise on Monday, August 16, 2021 at the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi Abuja by 9.30 am,” the invitation read.
Data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control showed that no fewer than 8,054 cases of the coronavirus were reported over two weeks.
The Punch
