The number of COVID-19 cases recorded at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camps across the country is more than reported, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said.
The spokesperson of the NYSC, Adenike Adeyemi, had earlier dismissed media reports that 109 corps members had tested positive to COVID-19.
However, the minister said on Wednesday that if more tests are conducted, “there will be more cases” in the 37 NYSC camps across the country.
Mohammed said consistent testing and non-compliance to non-pharmaceutical interventions are responsible for the rising cases of infection across the camps.
“Two things are responsible for the high cases of pandemic reported at the National Youth Service Corps camps,” he said.
“One is because of consistent testing that has been taking place in the camps. The truth of the matter is that if we ramp up testing today, there will be more cases.
“Second reason for the high cases is that people have actually let down their guards. We are no longer obeying non-pharmaceutical interventions such as washing of hands regularly with soap and water or sanitising of hands when that (washing of hand) is not available.”
The minister said Nigerians have relaxed their guard despite an increased number of infections, as the country experiences a third wave compounded by the presence of Delta variant in some states..
