As Nigerians settle for one of the most solemn Easter celebrations in recent history as a result of the dreaded Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that is ravaging the entire globe, Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation has recorded 13 new cases of COVID-19. The new figure brings to 318 the total number of confirmed cases in the country.
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) who made this disclosure in Lagos on Saturday said Lagos State, which is Nigeria’s epicentre recorded 11 new cases, while Kano and Delta States recorded one each. The NCDC said in their statement that, “As at 9:30 pm on April 11, there are 318 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Nigeria. 70 persons have been discharged while 10 have died.”
A breakdown of the figures showed that Lagos has 174 cases, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja 56, Osun State 20, Edo State 12, Oyo 11, Ogun State seven, Bauchi State and Kaduna State have six each, Akwa Ibom State five, Katsina State four, Delta State three, Enugu, Ekiti, Rivers, Kwara and Ondo States have two each, while Benue, Niger, Anambra and Kano States have one each.
Nigerian states of Lagos, Ogun and Abuja are on complete 14 days lockdown as directed by the federal government of Nigeria. But as the lockdown ends on Monday, Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari has technically extended the lockdown indefinitely following a statement he issued on Saturday where he urged Nigerians to continue to sit at home until medical experts informs that it is safe to call off the stay at home order.