In Part 3 of our Coronavirus In Nigeria series, we focus on the mitigation and preventive actions of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the various states to the Coronavarious pandemic.
In Part 1 of the series titled Is Nigeria ready for the Coronavirus? + Facts about the novel virus (Updated), we discussed the development of the pandemic from the time when it was first reported in China in late 2009. While there was no doubt some level of preparedness for COVID-19 by Nigeria as questioned in our first article title, this present post shows that there have been notable improvements in responding to the pandemic by the Nigerian government both at the federal and states levels.
In Part 2 of the series titled Coronavirus in Nigeria Part 2: Statistics, trends, reactions and latest updates, we looked at Coronavirus trends and statistics in Nigeria. We also showed the early reactions of the federal government and states as more cases of the infections were recorded. The article is also daily updated as new day data emerge. We highly recommend you use the link to check it out.
This latest post documents government preventive and mitigation responses since our last article on the subject was published. We will show that the strategy has been to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus thus the government’s action has been geared towards containment and limitation of interactions between people. A lot of emphases have been placed on lockdown and stay-at-home directives except for essential services. All the states have also closed their borders but for essential transportation e.g. for food and medical supplies.
In this article, we also present a summary of the various lockdown orders and will be updating it as new information emerges. So make sure to check periodically for the latest update.
Overview of Coronavirus in Nigeria
As of Saturday night, 25th April 2020, there are 1,182 confirmed cases in 27 Nigerian states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Also, while 222 previously infected individuals have recovered from the infections, 35 patients have died of it.
The distribution of confirmed Coronavirus infections across the states at the time of reporting are as follows:
Abia-2, Abuja (FCT)-138 Akwa Ibom-11, Adamawa-1, Anambra-1, Bauchi-11, Benue-1, Borno-30, Delta-6, Edo-22, Enugu-2, Ekiti-8, Gombe-30, Imo-1, Jigawa-2, Kaduna-10, Kano-77, Katsina-30, Kwara-11, Lagos-689, Niger-2, Ogun-35, Ondo-4, Osun-32, Oyo-18, Rivers-3, Sokoto-2 and Zamfara-2.
States with no confirmed cases are Bayelsa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba and Yobe.
Coronavirus testing facilities
The availability of widescale testing is a key factor in Coronavirus pandemic response. On this end, Nigeria has limited capacity, which can negatively impact the country’s response to the pandemic.
On 30th March 2020, the suspected cases that Nigeria was tracing, rose to 6,000 but by 2nd April 2020, the government claimed to have identified about 6,700 contacts. They added that there was a total of eight testing labs in the country.
However, by 10th April 2020, Nigeria announced that they have identified about 8,932 people of interest and monitoring 220. Also, on 13 April 2020, the government claimed to have increased testing by 50%, to a current capacity of 1,500 tests per day. The government also announced that there are a total of eleven testing labs spread across the country.
On the other hand, the Lagos State government said on 14th April 2020, that their officials had visited 118,000 households in two days, identifying 119 persons with the symptoms of the virus in the state.
By 15th April 2020, the Nigerian government announced that they have upgraded testing capacity of 3,000 persons per day. It added that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had 12 testing labs located in eight states.
Some of the Nigerian states that have coronavirus testing capacities include Lagos, Osun, Edo, Oyo, Borno, Kano, Kaduna States and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Federal Government recent reactions
On 26th March, the Federal Government of Nigeria ordered the immediate closure of international airports and land borders in the country for a period of four weeks. And by 29th March, the movements of all passenger aircraft all over the country, including commercial and private jets were suspended.
On 29th March, following more coronavirus cases, the Federal Government announced a lockdown of Lagos State, Ogun State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, for a period of two weeks. The lockdown took effect from 11 pm Monday, 30th March 2020 in the named areas. Lagos State and Abuja were the most hit state at the time but Ogun was included due to its proximity to Lagos and the common interactions between the two states.
The lockdown directive directed all citizens in the areas to stay at homes and banned travel in and out of the states as well. However, because of their importance, hospitals, food processing, petroleum distribution, banks, power generation and private security companies were allowed to stay open.
In addition, the government exempted people who worked in telecommunication, broadcasting, printing and electronic media companies to go to work.
By 13th April, just as the initial lockdown period was about to elapse, the Federal government extended the lockdown of Lagos State, Ogun State and the FCT, for another two weeks from 11 pm.
On 16th April 2020, Reuters reports that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) claimed security forces had killed at least 18 people in Nigeria during the enforcement of measures to curb the spread of the virus.
The account adds: “The Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Army did not respond to phone calls seeking comment on the NHRC statement.”
The federal government of Nigeria on 20th April 2020, extended the closure of airports for another 2 weeks.
On 21st April 2020, the government issued an apology after it broke lockdown and Coronavirus safety protocols by holding a burial ceremony for Abba Kyari, the chief of staff to the president. Abba Kyari died in Lagos on Friday 17th April 2020 from Coronavirus complications and was buried in Abuja on Saturday, 18 April 2020.
According to an All Africa report, the chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Mr Boss Mustapha, and the national coordinator on COVID- 19, Dr Sani Aliyu, who issued the apology at a press conference in Abuja.
Nigeria states governments recent reactions
Following the outbreak of the coronavirus in Nigeria and its incessant spreading ability, State governments and the Federal government sought to contain the spread by enforcing wide-reaching lockdown policies. These policies are aimed at ensuring that more people do not contract the virus and that infected ones do not spread it.
For more coverage on this story, read: #Coronavirus: Governors of 36 states agree to go on 14-day inter-state lockdow
Summary of lockdown status across Nigerian states and Abuja
Below is a table that quickly summarises the lockdown initiatives across all states in Nigeria.
[table id=StatesLockdown /]
Timeline of states lockdown directives
25th March
In Abia State, the government banned all ceremonies that hosted more than 30 guests. In the same vein, it banned religious activities of more than 50 persons for 30 days.
The Bauchi State government said all markets will be closed from 26th March unless it was to sell essential commodities like food items and medicine.
The Delta State Government announced the closure of its borders, halting movement in and out of the state for two weeks. The airport in Asaba was to be closed on 27th March while land borders were to close from 29th March. It announced that malls, supermarkets, markets and shops will be closed on 1st April.
To cater for essentials, the government directed that food sellers work from home. All residents were also advised to stay at home from 1st April. However, providers of essential services like security, healthcare, pharmacies, water services, fire services, power services, essential departments of media houses and telecommunications companies were exempted.
The Ekiti State Government also banned markets’ operations and exempted those selling essential commodities like food items, water, medicine and medical equipment.
The Imo State Government announced that all its major markets will be closed from 28th March. Its land borders were also to be closed and entry was allowed only after mandatory screening.
The Kwara State Government placed a ban on commercial transportation, closed all religious and commercial buildings and exempted those selling essential commodities like food items, water, medicine and medical equipment.
The Kogi State government also announced the closure of all its borders in and out of the State. In addition, it suspended all commercial motorcycle activities in the state with effect from 26th March. All public gatherings of more than five people became illegal.
In Kano State, the authorities announced that they will close air and land borders into and out of the state starting from 27th March 2020.
The Rivers State Government announced an indefinite closure of their sea, air and land borders with effect from 26th March 2020.
26th March
The Akwa Ibom State government announced the closing of the state borders and exempted food items transportation from the constraint. It asked all state government workers to stay at home for a week beginning on 30th March.
In addition, the government announced that its state-owned airline, Ibom Air, will suspend all flight operations from 29th March.
Meanwhile, in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory Administration directed all business and commercial activities in the region to take place between 9 pm and 6 am. This was before the president imposed a complete lockdown on FCT starting 30th March 2020.
The Ebonyi State Government announced that it will close the state borders from 28th March. Only vehicles transporting food items, construction materials, medical supplies and patients going for treatment will be allowed to leave or enter.
The Jigawa State Government said that all its borders will be closed from 27th March.
The Kaduna State Government puts a curfew in place from dusk to dawn and directed everyone to stay at homes unless they are essential services providers. It also directed all businesses, offices and places of worship to close. Ceremonies and social gatherings were, likewise, banned.
In Sokoto State, the government announced the closing of state borders for two weeks beginning on 27th March. Only, vehicles transporting food and essential medical commodities were allowed to be on the road.
27th March
The Bayelsa State Government announced the closing its sea and land borders with immediate effect.
In Enugu State, the government announced an indefinite closure of the state borders and inter-state transportation from 31st March. It would only allow medical emergency services’ transportations.
