TheCable

Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), says he is surprised that some people link him with conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some persons have claimed that the coronavirus pandemic is a cover for Gates’ alleged plan to implant trackable microchips in the world’s populace.

But in an interview with Reuters, on Wednesday, Gates described the reports spreading on social media as crazy.

He, however, said he would like to explore the rationale behind the theories being peddled about him and the COVID-19 virus.

“Nobody would have predicted that I and Dr. Fauci would be so prominent in these really evil theories,” he said.

“I’m very surprised by that. I hope it goes away. But do people really believe that stuff? We’re really going to have to get educated about this over the next year and understand…how does it change peoples’ behaviour and how should we have minimized this?”

There has been diverse theories making the rounds on social media concerning the deadly virus, its origin and how it has evolved.

Gates had earlier said governments around the world, including Nigeria, need to start preparing for the next pandemic.

Responding to a question by TheCable at a virtual conference, Gates had said a country like Nigeria needs to invest more in primary healthcare to ensure it is well prepared for the next global pandemic.