FG seals clinic for conducting illegal COVID-19 tests

“The FCTA has decided that this illegality cannot stand.”

News Agency of Nigeria • February 5, 2021

FCT Minister Mohammed Musa Bello

The Federal Capital Territory Administration COVID-19 Protocols Enforcement Taskforce on Friday sealed a private clinic for conducting illegal COVID-19 tests and issuing fake certificates to intending international travellers.

The Chairman, FCTA COVID-19 Facilities Accreditation Committee, Yakubu Mohammed, who led the operation, said credible information revealed that BMT Tourist Clinic and Diagnostic Centre was carrying out the illegal activities.

Mr. Mohammed said the clinic located in Wuse II District was not given the approval to carry out COVID-19 healthcare services.

On his part, Ihkaro Attah, Head, Media and Enlightenment of the task force disclosed that medical experts confirmed that the clinic was contravening important guidelines in handling the pandemic.

Attah noted that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had also alerted the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, over the clinic’s unethical practices, hence the need to seal it and save residents of untoward health emergency quickly.

Attah used the occasion to warn public members to be wary of unscrupulous merchants who wanted to feed fat on people’s ignorance.

“The FCT minister’s office got a tip that there was contravention to the guidelines regarding testing for COVID-19 and issuance of a certificate, be it negative or positive.

“The health response team and the enforcement team are here because there is credible information, as it is coming from the office of director general, NCDC himself, notifying us that what the clinic was doing is a contravention.

“The FCTA has decided that this illegality cannot stand. We are here to seal this place and warn all other illegal health facilities to stop doing so.

“It is only duly accredited facilities by FCT Health Secretariat and NCDC that can issue such certificates so that once the certificate comes out either positive and negative, one can be sure,” he said.

Attah also cautioned the public, especially those travelling to patronise only facilities approved by the FCT Health Secretariat and the NCDC.

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