Anxiety, Fears As Senate Shuts Public Gallery, Suspends Hearings Over COVID-19
BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – Palpable fears and growing concerns over the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the country have extended their casualty list as the Nigerian Senate on Thursday placed an indefinite restriction on access to its chamber
Similarly, the upper legislative chamber has also suspended all public hearings until further notice.
The Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan, announced the decision after the Senators held a closed session at the resumption of plenary to deliberate on the devastating impact which the coronavirus pandemic may cause in the country following the absence of preventive measures.
A statement signed by Ezrel Tabiowo, Special Assistant (Press) to the Senate President, quoted him as saying that; “The Senate resolves to suspend all public hearings till further notice as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).”
“In addition, the Senate gallery will remain closed to the public till further notice, including excursions from schools and organisations from Tuesday 24th of March, 2020,” Lawan said.
The Senate moves came on the heels of news break that Nigeria, as at Wednesday, March 18, 2020, had recorded new cases of infection in Ekiti State following the death of an infected male American.
Aged 27, the American travelled into Nigeria from Richmond, Virginia in the United States of America.
Also, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, had earlier on Wednesday confirmed that the country had recorded five fresh cases of COVID-19.
