Governor, Bala Mohammed, has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), according to a statement by his media aide, Mukhtar Gidado, on Tuesday, March 24, 2020.
Even though he wasn’t displaying any symptoms, the governor took the test after it was announced that Mohammed Abubakar, son of former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, had tested positive for the virus on Sunday, March 22.
The governor also recently travelled to Germany, a high-risk country where he could have also contracted the virus.
The governor had met Abubakar inside an Abuja-bound airplane in Lagos and shook his hand on March 17.
A day after the meeting from which the governor is now believed to have contracted coronavirus, he met with Nigerian billionaire, Alike Dangote, who might now be getting tested himself as a precaution. “I thank @AlikoDangote & the @AlikoDangoteFdn for the proposed empowerment initiative targeted at no less than 1000 rural women in each of the 20 LGAs in Bauchi State. This initiative, in partnership with @GovBauchi, is aimed at alleviating poverty, particularly at the grassroots. “Also, resulting from our meeting this afternoon, the @AlikoDangoteFdn further committed to building five additional primary healthcare centres for enhanced healthcare service delivery in the state,” the governor shared on his Twitter account after the March 18 meeting.
A source in Dangote’s office, who pleaded anonymity, told Pulse that the meeting actually happened early on March 17 in Lagos before the governor made contact with Atiku’s son.
The governor had similarly tweeted about his meeting on March 17 with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, but it’s unclear if that happened before his contact with Mohammed.
The 61-year-old governor also attended the National Economic Council meeting on March 19. The meeting regularly takes place at the Presidential Villa and comprises all 36 state governors, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and other top government officials.
