El-Rufai becomes second Nigerian governor to test positive for Covid-19

Governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai, has tested positive for coronavirus.

The governor made the announcement via a video he uploaded on his social media handles on Saturday.

He said he took the test earlier in the week and the result came out positive.

El-Rufai said he has gone into self-isolation, thereby urging members of the state to follow the directives of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

“Earlier this week, I submitted a sample for the Covid-19 test. The result came in this evening, and I regret to say that it is positive,” he said.

“According to the protocols for managing Covid-19, I am in self-isolation as required by the case management guidelines of the NCDC for a someone that is no showing symptoms.

“I wish to appeal to the people of Kaduna State to continue to closely observe the preventive measures already announced.

“It is most important that everybody should do their utmost to stay safe, stay home and stay alive.

“The Deputy Governor is chairing our Covid-19 Taskforce and will continue to issue statements from time to time.”

El-Rufai is the second Nigerian governor to test positive for the disease.

Governor of Bauchi state, Bala Mohammed, had earlier tested positive for coronavirus.

According to the NCDC, Nigeria has 89 coronavirus cases spreads across eight states and the federal capital territory.

The centre was yet to update the figures as at when El-Rufai made the announcement.

A former managing director of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Suleiman Achimugu, is Nigeria’s only casualty from the disease so far.

He died on Monday after returning to the country from the UK.

Over 600,000 coronavirus cases have bee recorded globally, with more than 28,000 deaths.