COVID-19: Patience Jonathan’s hotel to be converted to isolation centre amid EFCC forfeiture order

Former President Goodluck Jonathan wife has struck a deal with the wife of the president, Aishat Buhari to release her ultra-modern Abuja hotel to be used as isolation centre according to the Nation.

Aishat Buhari, through her pet project the Future Assured Programme will be providing facilities like water, furniture, beddings, fittings and will be footing the bills for the structural conversion of the hotel to isolation centre with 300 beds to admits coronavirus patients.

The facilities will then be handed over to the health ministry which will be equipped to the required standard in order to be used as a treatment centre for COVID-19 patients and it will be managed by the FCT COVID-19 committee. 

The facility which worth was put at two billion nairas is under litigation as the EFCC secured an interim forfeiture order at the court in April 2018 but as the number of COVID-19 patients continues to increase the demand for isolation is inevitable hence Patience Jonathan agreed to release the 200 beds hotel for the purpose at this critical time. 

All the existing agreements are without prejudice to the final decision of the court on the property, which the former First Lady said is owned by a separate entity, Aurora Foundation as this mutual understanding has removed all legal hurdles for now until the fight against the pandemic is over. 

The hotel is a five-storey building located in a valley in Mabushi part of Abuja, off the ever-busy Mabushi Kado Expressway. The ash colour painted hotel is easily noticed by shoppers who take the route to one of the biggest shopping complexes in Abuja, the Jabi Lake Mall.

Workers were seen working on the facilities day and night to ensure that the conversion of the place is ready in record time as policemen were on guard to ensure the safety of the workers on the ground.