NCDC Denies Spending N1b On Sending Text Messages To Nigerians

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has denied claims that it has spent one billion naira on sending text messages to Nigerians since the outbreak of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) in the country.

The centre made the clarification while reacting to a news content on social media which claimed the huge amount of money has been spent on sending messages to Nigerians.

While acknowledging that it has been sending awareness text messages to Nigerians, the NCDC denied spending one billion naira on the project, noting that the messages are been sent with the help and support of telecommunications companies in the country.

The NCDC made the clarification in a Tweet on Thursday morning when it wrote: “The headline claiming that NCDC has spent N1 billion on SMS to Nigerians is FALSE.”

“While communication through SMS is a key part of our #COVID19 response strategy, this has been largely provided as in-kind support.” #TakeResponsibility.

The headline claiming that NCDC has spent N1 billion on SMS to Nigerians is FALSE

While communication through SMS is a key part of our #COVID19 response strategy, this has been largely provided as in-kind support by @AirtelNigeria @MTNNG @GloWorld

#TakeResponsibility pic.twitter.com/CCr2B943FJ

— NCDC (@NCDCgov) April 9, 2020

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control is the country’s national public health institute, with the mandate to lead the preparedness, detection and response to infectious disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.