FRIDAY: 3rd September, 2021: The Delta State Government has expressed dismay at the decision of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission to centralise COVID-19 tests for intending pilgrims in the state which has resulted in an inability of over 77 intending pilgrims to be airlifted to Jordan due to the late release of the COVID-19 test results.
Mr Charles Aniagwu, the State Commissioner for Information, who made this known on Friday in Asaba, said that the centralised COVID-19 test ordered by the NCPC had caused untold hardship to the intending pilgrims.
He said, “Because of in the haphazard release of the test results, 77 of them were not airlifted to Jordan.
“It was disappointing for the intending pilgrims especially as the state had accredited centres to carry out the COVID-19 test in the state.
“A total of 315 Deltans were supposed to have been airlifted to Jordan from the Port Harcourt International Airport, 223 eventually travelled as 15 reportedly tested positive for the virus and 77 could not travel due to late release of their results.”
The commissioner apologised to the intending pilgrims for the inconveniences suffered as a result of the botched arrangement, assuring them that efforts were being made to remedy the situation.
