The Federal government has come out to say that there is zero threat of Coronavirus in Nigeria.
The government disclosed this after the closure of popular retail supermarket- Panda in Abuja was shut down by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, after a warning.
According to Babatunde Irukera, FCCPC spokesman, an investigation is ongoing on the closure.
He, however, added that there is no reason to be bothered that the outcome of the investigation will result in the threat of Coronavirus.
His words, “My sense of it is that I don’t believe that there are any threats with respect to the products that have been found in this place. However is the process that we found, the manner we found the products, the lack of clarity about how the products have arrived in this country. Can that present a possibility for future threats? The answer is yes if you do not address it.”
“The assumption is not that products coming from China to Nigeria are potentially compromised however, as I said, we're considering in abundance the caution just to be sure that every measure to protect the community is activated.
“I'm more concerned that there’s potential for any of the food items in Nigeria to be carried out at this point, however, the reason why I'm not concerned is the quality of the vigilance and what we're doing.”
“NAFDAC, FCCPC have activated different protocols, is that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is not a primary agency for managing that kind of thing, however, we all work together with the Federal government and with the information that we develop and provide.
“The investigation is continuing, the NAFDAC and FCCPC operatives are inside right now. In addition, tons of senior operatives of Panda Supermarket are actually in our office right now, answering questions and assisting the investigation.
“One of the key areas of the interrogation in our office right now is the supply chain that panda follow through to get its products and so we will be providing that information obviously to relevant authorities to ensure that they will be acting as swiftly as we've.”