The house of representatives member representing Egbeda/Ona-Ara federal constituency, Hon. Akin Alabi has revealed that he is awaiting the approval of the ministry of health to build his own COVID-19 test centre in the state.

Akin Alabi, who disclosed while speaking on Fresh FM COVID-19 situation room program, stated that his decision to build a test centre was necessitated by the need to increase testing in the state.

He said, “The governor is making progress, making people to resume is negative because if you are doing well by trying to increase testing but still pushing people out which is going to increase the risk. I have plans actually to launch a testing centre in Ibadan, still waiting for Oyo state ministry of Health for approval.
“We are ready, but, we have been on the approval for weeks, we have not gotten it yet, that is why I said we can’t afford to play politics with this thing.”

Speaking on why the approval for the test centre must come from the state government and not the NCDC, he said,”To domicile it in Oyo state, the state must give us approval. We have been assured that it would be approved. I am tired of sharing rice, there is more to this disease.
“I know it is probably not the governor himself that is saying they shouldn’t approve but you know people can be overzealous sometimes. So, now that it is out, I believe that will speed up things and give us approval so that we can start running our own testing.”

Unlike, majority of lawmakers in the state, Akin Alabi also revealed that some of his constituents have benefited from the palliative of the federal government.

“100 per cent, yeah, I was even following up to make sure that these people get their money. But, one thing I have said on social media on the issue of palliative is, it is a thing that is supposed to be done across all levels of government, for example, look at the state government, not just Oyo state, all the states of the federation, personal income tax is paid to the state government, so, this is the time for the state government to show Nigerians the benefit of paying your personal income tax.”

He, however, noted that not everyone can receive it because it can’t reach everywhere.