COVID-19 SECOND WAVE: Niger speaker tests positive for coronavirus

By Yusuf Adua

Barrister Bawa Wuse, the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, and the Clerk of the House Mohammed Kagara have gone into self-isolation after testing positive for COVID-19.

Our correspondent gathered that the speaker and principal officer have gone into quarantine as Nigeria and the state slum into a second wave of the deadly virus.

A source in the House which communicated News Live Nigeria said most of the test carried on the lawmakers returned negative except that of the Speaker and the Clerk, adding that the duo is, however, responding to treatment and are stable.

According to the source, two weeks ago, a member of the house tested positive and this made the whole legislators and staff of the assembly undergo mandatory testing.

“Unfortunately, the results of the speaker and that of clerk turned out positive,” the source said.

Reacting to the news, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mohammed Sani Idris confirmed the report and added that the two big wigs are fairing well in isolation.

The recent spike in the dreadful virus in Niger state has led to a number of deaths including that of a former Head of Service in the state that was announced on Saturday.

This frightening news has created panic in the minds of civil servants in the state and occupants alike especially, within those in the House of Assembly.

News Live Nigeria understands that the Niger State Government last week directed all civil servants to stay at home from Monday, 21st December 2020 till further notice except those on essential duties.