The permanent secretary of the Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono has debunked claims of an epidemic outbreak at Queens College Lagos.
Speaking to Daily Sun on Tuesday October 1, Echono insisted that there was no epidemic outbreak but flu and malaria cases amid media report of 700 students being affected.
“There was no cholera outbreak but flu and malaria cases, which the Principal informed me have been brought under control. I am on my way to Lagos for on the spot assessment” he said in confirmatory message.
Upon getting to the school, the Permanent Secretary said he spoke extensively with the doctors and nurses who also debunked claims of the epidemic.
“I want to say that all such reports going round about outbreak of epidemic in Queens College is total falsehood.
“A I am speaking with you, I just left that school about one hour ago and on my way back to the airport en-route Abuja.
“I chose to dash down to Lagos to come and see things for myself, because such stories are damaging.
“On getting to the college, I went straight to the sick bay. Yes I saw a few students being attended to on account of flu and malaria.
“I spoke with the nurse at length, spoke with the doctor, the principal and some other persons, what I discovered is that the students were majorly having flu and malaria, nothing more.
“I was equally conducted round the college to do some inspection and based on this, I can confidently tell you that there is nothing like epidemic,” he said.
He also warned against the spread of fake news which according to him might be instigated by some staff of the school fighting each other. The Principal of the College, Tokunbo Yukubu-Oyinloye also debunked the viral media report.
She said: “We don’t have any outbreak in our school. What is happening to the students was just normal flu because of the cold weather. Our doctor, Ojo, would have given you more details now but he is busy with some government officials.”
