Oyo Lawmaker, Akin Alabi To Launch COVID-19 Test Centres In Ibadan, Awaiting Makinde’s Approval

A federal lawmaker, representing Ona-Ara/Egbeda constituency, Oloyo Akin Alabi says he is planning to build test centres in Ibadan as part of efforts to support the government in testing capacity for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hon. Alabi shared this in an interview with Mayor Isaac Brown on Fresh FM 105.9 Ibadan COVID-19 situation room on Tuesday.

He said he has been on it for a while and waiting for the approval from the state government, insinuating politics will not set in.

Hon Alabi said, “I have plans actually to launch a testing centre in Ibadan, still waiting for Oyo state Ministry of Health for approval.

“Yes, we are ready, but, we have been on the approval for weeks, we have not gotten it yet, that is why I said we can’t afford to play politics with this thing.

“To domicile it in Oyo state, the state must give us approval. We have been assured that it would be approved. I am tired of sharing rice, there is more to this disease. I know it is probably not the governor himself that is saying they shouldn’t approve but you know people can be overzealous sometimes. So, now that it is out, I believe that will speed up things and give us approval so that we can start running our testing.”

If approved, Akin Alabi testing centres may run like what Aliko Dangote is doing in Kano state for the testing of the residents.

On Makinde’s performance so far in tackling COVID-19 in the state, the lawmaker said the governor is making progress but needs to retrace steps in some approaches including subjecting state workers to resume, thereby increasing the risk of the street.

He said he is not going to donate to the state government COVID-19 endowment fund because he has a big project which is to build test centre “that is even going to cost more money than what a lot of people are putting the government coffers.”

“So, I think I should just concentrate on building these test centers, let’s fight this disease together.”