COVID-19: 77 intending pilgrims stranded at airport, 15 test positive in Delta

Over 77 intending pilgrims from Delta State were not airlifted to Jordan because of the late release of the COVID-19 test results.

This is as the Delta State Government expressed dismay with the decision of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission to centralise COVID-19 tests for intending pilgrims in the state.

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, who 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.”

Aniagwu apologised to the affected pilgrims for the inconveniences suffered as a result of the botched arrangement, assuring that efforts were being made to remedy the situation.

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