Coronavirus: NCDC Debunks Reports of Spending N1 Billion on SMS

Social media has been buzzling ever since report filtered  the webspace with claims that the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) had spent over N1 billion to send Short Message Service (SMS) to Nigerians on how to stop the spread of the pandemic Coronavirus - COVID-19 in the country.

NCDC Director. Source: Onobello.com

 The agency via its twitter official handle described the news as false.

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

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

“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 health institute added.

The public health institute did not mention how much funds has being spent so far in the fight for Coronavirus in Nigeria.