15 Delta pilgrims tested positive for Coronavirus
Charles Aniagwu
Commissioner blames Buhari for herders, farmers clashes
No fewer than 15 of 315 pilgrims from Delta State, who should have been airlifted to Jordan, have tested positive to the COVID-19 virus, while 77 of them were unable to travel due to late release of their test results.
Commissioner of Information, Charles Aniagwu, who disclosed this, yesterday, in Asaba, said 223 travelled from the Port Harcourt International Airport.
Aniagwu, however, expressed dismay with the decision of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), to centralise COVID-19 tests for intending pilgrims in the state.
He said the centralised COVID-19 test ordered by the NCPC caused untold hardship to intending pilgrims, as 77 of them were not airlifted to Jordan because of the haphazard release of their test results.
Aniagwu said it was disappointing for the intending pilgrims, especially as the state had accredited centres for COVID-19 test.
He apologised to the affected pilgrims over the inconveniences suffered due to the botched arrangement and assured that efforts were being made to remedy the situation.
MEANWHILE, Aniagwu blamed President Muhammadu Buhari for not providing adequate leadership in resolving the crisis on open grazing, which had resulted in constant clashes between herders and farmers across the country.
Aniagwu, who spoke on The Morning Show on Arise TV, yesterday, said the anti-grazing law was not targeted at any section of the society, but to provide healthy living among stakeholders in the farming and cattle rearing businesses.
“Let’s remove the politics and primordial sentiments from the crisis. I do not blame the individuals who are opposed to ban on open grazing. I blame the President, because I assume that he should be able to understand. Those who advise him, have a clearer picture of what obtains in advanced societies.
“Subjecting the cattle to some form of unwarranted exercise is not healthy, because the cattle are shedding weight and, therefore, not able to provide all the proteins we desire, as they are usually subjected to wandering thousands of kilometres,” he stated.
He said the state of Texas in the United States of America alone has more cattle than the entire Nigeria, yet cattle roaming on the streets and cause havoc other people’s means of livelihood, especially farmers.
