Fresh Update On Tourism Minister Emerge After Reports Of Poisoning
The Ministry of Tourism has refuted media reports claiming that Minister Lola Ade-John was poisoned and subsequently hospitalized.
When contacted by Vanguard, the Assistant Director of Press at the Ministry, Emem Mariam Ofiong, dismissed the poisoning allegation, confirming instead that the minister had been diagnosed with malaria, received treatment, and is now in stable condition.
The online report suggesting that Minister Lola Ade-John was hospitalized in Abuja due to alleged poisoning is unfounded. The report claimed she was receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre in Jabi, Abuja, and that her health had deteriorated to the point where she required breathing assistance.
Furthermore, the report stated that there was disagreement within the family regarding whether she should remain in a public hospital or be transferred to a more well-equipped private facility. The Permanent Secretary of her ministry, Ngozi Onwudike, reportedly advocated for her to remain in the public hospital, while the family preferred a private facility but lacked the necessary funds for the transfer.
The FMC spokesperson did not respond immediately for comment on Ms. Ade-John’s condition. Minister Lola Ade-John, who recently took office as the first indigenous Minister of Tourism following the division of the erstwhile Ministry of Information and Culture, pledged to elevate the Ministry to a global standard and a significant contributor to Nigeria’s economy.
She is one of the 48 ministers appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in August.
