The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has firmly dismissed claims regarding the presence of the newly identified COVID-19 variant, XEC, in Nigeria.

 In a statement issued on Saturday by Mr. Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, the ministry reassured Nigerians that there is no evidence supporting the existence of this variant in the country.

The statement urged the public to remain calm and continue practicing standard hygiene measures. The XEC variant, recently detected in Australia, has been noted for its increased virulence and has reportedly spread to 29 countries, raising global concerns about its potential impact on healthcare systems.

Despite these developments, the ministry emphasized that heightened surveillance at entry points and health facilities across Nigeria has not revealed any signs of the variant. To enhance preparedness, the federal government has equipped Federal Tertiary Hospitals with molecular laboratories, isolation centers, and intensive care units fitted with ventilators, aiming to strengthen the country's response to any potential outbreaks.

Additionally, the ministry addressed misinformation circulating on social media, including a purported official letter with reference number DHS/INSPDIV/017/NOL.1/46 dated December 5, 2024, which falsely claimed the detection of the XEC variant.