NCDC Clears Air On Spending ₦1bn On Text Messages

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control has reacted to reports that it has spent ₦1bn on text messages.

An image has been circulating on social media with the inscription that the agency has spent ₦1 billion on bulk messages sent to Nigerians.

The agency, however, denied the report.

Reacting to the rumour via its official twitter handle, NCDC said that while it sendd text messages as part of its strategy to fight the pandemic, the report is false.

“The headline claiming that NCDC has spent N1 billion on SMS to Nigerians is FALSE,” the NCDC tweeted.

“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.”

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

Nigeria’s current Coronavirus cases rise to 276 on Wednesday after the agency announced 22 new cases in the country.