NIGERIA'S FIRST CASE OF CORONAVIRUS RECORDED IN LAGOS

Senate Blames FG for Inadequate Screening at Ports

The Ministry of Health, Lagos State has confirmed its first case of the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This makes it the first in Nigeria and in West Africa, and the second confirmed case in Africa following one recently recorded in Algeria in North Africa.

The case was confirmed in a statement released today by the state Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi. The novel virus has been reported in over 20 countries across Asia, the Middle East, Europe and lately in Africa. And similar to the case confirmed in Algeria, the victim, an Italian traveller, arrived in Nigeria on Tuesday from Milan on a business trip via the Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos.

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The statement from the government read, “The case is an Italian citizen who entered Nigeria on the 25th of February from Milan, Italy for a brief business visit.

“He fell ill on the 26th February and was transferred to Lagos State Biosecurity Facilities for isolation and testing. COVID-19 infection was confirmed by the Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, part of the Laboratory Network of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. The patient is clinically stable, with no serious symptoms, and is being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.”

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The state government claims to be working with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and other groups to ensure the case is effectively managed. The Federal Government recently released N386million to two health agencies to strengthen Coronavirus preparedness in Nigeria. However, the Senate, yesterday lamented the failure of the Federal Government to ensure the screening of passengers coming into the country from the nation’s airports and seaports.