The COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first confirmed case in Nigeria was announced on 27 February 2020, when an Italian citizen in Lagos tested positive for the virus.
On 28 January, the Federal government of Nigeria assured citizens of the country of its readiness to strengthen surveillance at five international airports in the country to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The government announced the airports as Enugu, Lagos, Rivers, Kano and the FCT. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control also announced same day that they had already set up coronavirus group and was ready to activate its incident system if any case emerged in Nigeria.
On 13 March, Nigeria confirmed that the second case no longer had the virus in his system and thus tested negative.On 17 March, Nigeria confirmed the third case in Lagos State, A 30-year-old Nigerian female citizen that returned on 13 March from the United Kingdom.On 23 March, there were ten new cases: six in Lagos State, three in the FCT and one in Edo State.They also confirmed their first death, a 67-year-old Suleiman Achimugu, an engineer and former managing director of Pipelines and products Marketing Company, who returned from United Kingdom with underlying health conditions.On 24 March, there were four new cases: one in Lagos State, one in Ogun State, one in Bauchi State, and one in the FCT.
On 31 July, there were four hundred and sixty two new cases: Ninety three in the FCT, seventy eight in Lagos State, sixty four in Plateau State, fifty four in Kaduna State, forty seven in Oyo State, thirty two in Ondo State, twenty three in Adamawa State, nineteen in Bauchi State, nine in Rivers State, nine in Ogun State, nine in Delta State, seven in Edo State, six in Kano State, six in Enugu State, five in Nasarawa State, and one in Osun State.
On 18 March, the management of the National Youth Service Corps suspended the 2020 Batch A stream one 21 days orientation exercise indefinitely. The orientation exercise commenced on 10 March and was expected to end on 30 March, before it was suspended after just 8 days. Later the same day, Nigeria placed a travel ban on 13 countries with high cases of the virus, the countries are; United States, United Kingdom, South Korea, Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, China, Spain, Netherlands, Norway, Japan and Iran.
The New Afrika Shrine suspended all their programmes indefinitely. Kwara State and Lagos State announced the indefinite closure of their public and private schools, while Zamfara State, Sokoto State, Katsina State, Niger State, Kano State, Jigawa State, Kebbi State and Kaduna State also closed down their schools for 30 days from 23 March. The Nigeria Football Federation suspended all football activities for four weeks.
Anambra State government announced the closure of their schools and suspension of public gatherings indefinitely, tertiary institutions to close from 20 March, while primary and secondary schools to close from 27 March. Ogun State government extended an earlier ban to schools and religious centres in the state indefinitely. Federal government announced the closure of tertiary institutions, secondary and primary schools. Enugu State government also ordered the closure of all primary and secondary schools in the state from 27 March.
On 21 March, Nasarawa State government confirmed that five persons tested negative for the virus in the state. Kebbi State government announced the indefinite closure of all their primary and secondary schools. The Nigerian Railway Corporation also announced the suspension of all passenger services from 23 March. Lagos State government reduced the number of people allowed in any religious or social gathering from 50 to 20. Nigeria announced the closure of the remaining two international airports. Abuja and Lagos, from 23 March.
Rivers State government announced a partial lockdown in their state, closing cinemas, nights clubs, public parks, weddings, burials and religious worship centres from 24 March. Edo State announced an indefinite ban of any gathering of more than 50 people. The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad ordered all courts in Nigeria to shut down from 24 March.
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