The Nigerian Senate on Thursday moved to prevent the outbreak of CoronaVirus in the country when it asked the Federal Government to immediately provide funds for the Centre for Disease Control to tackle the disease.
The fund is to enable the agency to carry out research on CoronaVirus and other tropical diseases threatening human existence.
Moving the motion under Order 42 and 52 of Senate rules, Senator Chukwuka Utazi representing Enugu North Senatorial District who is also the Chairman of Senate Committee on Health, expressed fear that the dreaded disease ravaging China can find its way into Nigeria if concrete steps are not taken.
“Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, you are aware of the contamination of Coronavirus, dreaded deasease that is characterised with runny nose, sore throat, and feverishness.
Read also: FG approves 3 dams for Adamawa insurgency ravaged communities
The virus has killed about 7,800 Chinese citizens with three cities in the south of the country locked down to prevent the spread.
Utazi said that Chinese authorities have put millions of her people under watch in order to curtail further contamination.
He further stressed that the Federal Government through the National Centre for Disease Control should monitor the likelihood of a breakout of the virus in Nigeria.
In his Contribution, Senator James Manager, representing Delta South Senatorial District said he had to shelf his planned visit to China as a result of the disease.
He noted that Chinese are all over Nigeria and will be returning to the country after their Lunar New Year celebration.
The lawmaker therefore asked that government quarantine Chinese citizens coming into the Country.
Adopting the motion, the Senate urged the, “Federal Government to release more funds to the National Centre for Desease Control to acquire recent and most sophisticated equipment as part of measures against Coronavirus in Nigeria.
He added that Nigerians travelling to Asia especially China should heed the Federal Government travel ban.
