COVID-19: AIT risks shutdown as Founder, wife, others test positive

Health officials in the Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA as well as Epidemiologists from the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control NCDC have concluded plans to screen the headquarters of the Daar Communications Plc, owners of RayPower and African Independent Television AIT in Abuja after the outfit’s founder, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi and some members of his family tested positive for the Novel Coronavirus.

Nationnewslead gathered that out of the about 43 residents of the nation’s capital, Abuja who tested positive for the virus on Friday, several of them were staff of the broadcasting outfit.

However, the organization in a statement late Friday said its founder, his wife, three children and other relatives had tested positive for Covid-19. The statement was silent on the number of staff who had tested positive.













The statement reads; “Following the test that was carried out on our Chairman- Chief Raymond Dokpesi Jnr on Thursday April 23, 2020 by the NCDC which eventually proved positive and his subsequent admission into the isolation centre on Friday April 24, 2020; we wish to state that in conformity with the Federal Government protocol on the COVID 19 administration and management, his entire household and those that had contacts with him were subsequently subjected to the test and with so much emotional pains, we hereby announce that the under listed have equally been confirmed positive: High chief Aleogho Dokpesi ( His Father/ Founder DAAR Communications PLC),l; Our chairman’s wife; His 3 Children; some Relatives. A total of 8

“They are all presently on their way to the Federal Government isolation centre at Gwagwalada in Abuja. “The Board, Management and the entire staff wish them their prayers and the grace of the good Lord for speedy recovery from the COVID 19 pandemic”, the managment of the broadcasting outfit stated.

Nationnewslead assemble that the relevant health officials who went to the station have concluded to screen the Newsroom, the Control Room, Production Studio and Engineering section to ascertain their level of contamination.

“If all these four places are contaminated, we would be left with no option than to shut down the entire station for decontamination”, said a health officials who pleaded anonymity.