The FCDA’s Executive Secretary, Shehu Ahmad, acknowledged the development over the weekend while updating the media on the organisation’s efforts to deliver essential national infrastructure.

He asserted that the properties in question, which are located in Abuja’s diplomatic district, were designated for a replacement many years ago to make room for the Ring Road One interchange’s development on the busy Inner Southern Expressway.

Ahmad said replacement plots were offered at some of the new layouts, which the authority was developing at Guzape ll, to assuage the embassies affected by the major infrastructural project.

He noted that the issues had been resolved at the diplomatic level, with the affected missions accepting the offer of replacement plots to pave the way for the construction of an interchange on that section of road.

“We had some challenges with diplomatic plots. At Ring Road One, we were supposed to have an interchange there, but we had challenges there due to diplomatic plots.

“When you have an issue with an embassy, it is like having an issue with the government of that nation. There were a lot of diplomatic moves made to ensure the resolution, but we have replacement plots and they have indicated their readiness to accept this, and we will soon develop our interchange there,” Ahmad said.

This was disclosed via the commission Twitter official handle on Saturday morning.

The tweet reads: “Chartered @airpeace flight APK-7813 conveying Stranded Nigerians from Malaysia and Thailand departing Kaula Lumpur to Abuja and Lagos today with Evacuees from Malaysia and Thailand onboard.

“This is the first evacuation from both countries since the coronavirus pandemic instigated lockdowns across the world. The flight is expected to depart at 7am and first arrive at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, before proceeding to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

“All evacuees have tested negative to COVID-19 and will proceed on a 14-day self-isolation on arrival.”

See Tweet below:

This is the First Evacuation flight from both countries and is expected to depart at about 7 am local time to Abuja and Lagos and will first land at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Int’l Airport, Abuja to disembark some evacuees before proceeding to Murtala Muhammed Int’l Airport, Lagos.
2/3. pic.twitter.com/2SQecix6wY

— Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (@nidcom_gov) July 11, 2020

All Evacuees tested Negative to #COVID19 and will proceed on 14 days SELF-ISOLATION as mandated PTF on #COVID-19 on arrival. @NigeriaGov @DigiCommsNG pic.twitter.com/i4MyL8TVTt

— Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (@nidcom_gov) July 11, 2020

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, the government stated Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Abayomi explained that the novel Coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans adding that Coronaviruses are primarily infections of animals that can be transmitted to humans.

“On 31 December 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO), China Country Office was informed of a cluster of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause, detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China. A novel Coronavirus was identified as the causative virus by Chinese authorities on the 7th January.

“As of 22nd January 2020, a total of 471 cases have been confirmed in South East Asia and USA with 9 deaths. There is evidence now that the infection is able to spread from person to person,” the Commissioner said.

Speaking on the common signs and symptoms of the infection, the Commissioner said they include fever, cough, shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing adding that in more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.