The gale of confirmation of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) status of top Nigerians continues as the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Alhaji Muhammed Babandede, on Sunday confirmed that he tested positive for the virus.
In a WhatsApp on Sunday morning, Babandede also said that as part of precautionary measures, he has been on self-isolation since he returned back to Nigeria from the United Kingdom on March 22.
According to the message: “Today, I tested positive for COVID-19. I have been on self-isolation since my return from UK on Sunday 22nd of this month with British Airways in Lagos. I urge my loved ones, Immigration Officers and Nigerians to pray for me and all those affected.”
Babandede urged all Immigration officers to continue working with his unnamed Deputy to move the service forward.
Said he: “It is a very difficult time but we can’t change what God destined for us. I urge officers to continue working with my able Deputy to further move our Service to another level. As advised by NCDC, I am totally isolated.”
The confirmation of the COVID-19 positive status of Babandede comes as the one-month temporary suspension of processing of passport and Migrant e-Registration by the Nigeria Immigration Service enters its second week on Monday.
NIS Spokesperson, Mr Sunday James, had last week Monday announced the suspension effective 23rd March – 23rd April, 2020, “in line with government’s directives on Restrictions on International Flight.”
Explaining that the Service will take advantage of this period to process all pending passport cases, he said that the public will be informed when they are ready for collection.