Ministries and departments within the Federal Capital Territory on Monday ignored safety tips by failing to deploy hand sanitisers to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease.
One of our correspondents, who visited the Federal Civil Service Secretariat along Shehu Shagari Way, and the other wing along Ahmadu Bello Way, Central Business District, observed that while there were hand sanitiser dispensers glued to the walls, they were all empty.
The story is the same at the old office of the Civil Service of the Federation.
The dispensers, it was learnt, were installed in 2014 during the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease and had not been refilled ever since.
our correspondent reports that there are at least 10 ministries within the federal secretariat.
They include the ministries of health, labour and employment, police affairs, special duties, education, aviation, sports and youth development, science and technology, Niger Delta and communications.
On the ground floor of Phase 3, Federal Secretariat, an empty hand sanitiser dispenser was seen in front of the elevator.
On the first floor of phase 3, where the Office of the Minister of Health is located, a security guard was seen administering sanitisers only to visitors who intended to visit the minister’s floor.
At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where several foreign nationals were seen when we visited, the story was the same.
At the entrance of the ministry where the flags of many countries were hoisted, there were two hand sanitiser dispensers installed on either side. They were also empty when our correspondent attempted to make use of them.
A security guard laughed at attempts by our correspondent to use the dispensers, saying, “There is no sanitiser there. It has been empty for a long time. Are you a new visitor?”
