By Onome Oghenetega
The management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on Thursday ordered the shutting down of the commission’s headquarters hours after the death of its Executive of Director of Finance and Administration, Ibanga Etang, went viral.
NIGER DELTA TODAY Online gathered that it is being alleged that the late executive director of finance died of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic days after he was hospitalized at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital in Port Harcourt.
It was further learnt that the deceased NDDC chief last visited the commission last week where he participated in some official meetings with other management officials of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the interventionist agency.
Our sources further alleged that Etang before being hospitalized at the University Teaching Hospital had complained of symptoms alleged to be those of COVID-19.
It was gathered that the decision of the IMC was to contain further spread of the disease to staff.
It was further learnt that some management of the commission who met with the late Etang were already afraid over the development and had gone on self isolation.
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Although, there is no official statement confirming that Etang died of coronavirus, a statement by the IMC announcing the shutdown of the development insinuated so when he directed staff and others to go on self isolation for two weeks.
A statement announcing the shutting down of the commission was signed by Silas Anyawu on behalf of the management of the NDDC.
According to it, “I am directed to inform all staff that management has approved that the commission be shut down for two weeks from today 28 May 2020.
“Consequently, all activities in the commission including ongoing matters are hereby shut down for the time being.
“Members of staff are to ensure that all electrical appliances in their offices are switched off before leaving the premises.
“The head security is by this memo directed to work out modalities to ensure the safety and security of the commission while director, the administration is requested to fumigate and decontaminate the entire offices and premises in the Headquarters during the period.
“Meanwhile staff are enjoined to go into self-isolation for two weeks as they await further directive from Management.”
