Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, has declined calls seeking the location of the President’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari who is down with the COVID19.

Mr. Kyari who had earlier confirmed he tested positive for the novel virus has not been seen in public since the announcement over a week ago. He was said to be receiving treatment in Abuja with later reports stating he would be moved to Lagos State for further treatment.

So far no one knows the whereabouts of the Chief of staff, the Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi, had said on Tuesday that he did not know Kyari’s location. Many believe the President’s closest aide had left the country for treatment.

The health minister during a Presidential task force briefing on Wednesday said Kyari’s location was not important, adding that the President’s chief of staff like everyone else had a right to privacy.

Ehanire said, “I want to repeat that every person, including each of you here, has a right to privacy. Each of you has the right to tell anyone whether you have been screened or whether you have tested negative or positive and that right is also granted to those who are in public office or VIPs.

“Some VIPs have chosen to disclose by themselves; some have authorized that their own result can be announced and I announced mine, the SGF gave me the permission to announce his, the Vice-President also gave us permission.

“For those who didn’t give us the permission, we don’t announce their results and we don’t tell you who is positive or negative and we don’t go into the fact of whether they are in treatment or not because it is not part of what the public needs to know.

“But let me tell you that all those who are screened and found positive, whether VIP or common man, are all in good care and in custody and are being properly taken care of.”

Chukwugozie Okeke reporting, Obinwannem News