Lafarge Africa Plc, a cement manufacturer company in Ogun State who invited the Italian man diagnosed with Coronavirus has explained that he flew into the country as a consultant.
The Industrial Director, Segun Soyoye, stated that the Italian came to Lafarge facilities at Ewekoro to inspect some installations of machines bought from a Swedish firm.
He disclosed this at their facility during an on-the-spot-assessment by the host state government, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the World Health Organisation (WHO) teams.
“The Italian came for a business visit. He was in Lagos on Monday and slept at Airport Hotel, Ikeja. Our driver took him there, and when we observed abnormal temperatures and symptoms, we quickly instituted an Emergency Response Team which is led by the Company CEO; we have to find a way of analysing and identifying not only the Italian but also the other contacts,” Mr Soyoye was quoted as saying by the News Agency of Nigeria.
The official also said 39 people suspected to have had contact with the Italian have been quarantined.
Lafarge management and the Ogun State Government also debunked the closure of the cement production company.
The state government through Ogun Commissioner for Health, Tomi Coker, commended Lafarge Africa for the quick and proactive measures taken so far.
She also said an Emergency Operation Committee had been activated to manage any development that may arise from the reported cases of coronavirus.
Also, Ibrahim Mamadu, the Team Leader of World Health Organisation (WHO) Nigeria, also commended the internal processes undertaken so far by Lafarge Africa to contain the deadly disease.
He, however, advised the company and others to acquire digital thermometers to check body temperatures instead of infrared thermometers for accurate body temperature readings.
