The COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria (PART-1)

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, caused by SARS-CoV-2. On 9 March 2020, a second case of the virus was reported in Ewekoro, Ogun State, and a Nigerian citizen who had contact with the Italian citizen.

February, Nigeria confirmed its first case in Lagos State, an Italian citizen who works in Nigeria had returned on 25 February from Milan, Italy through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, fell ill on 26 February and was transferred to Lagos State biosecurity facilities for isolation and testing.

On 9 March, the second case was confirmed, a Nigerian citizen in Ewekoro, Ogun State who had contact with the Italian citizen.

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 18 March, there were five new cases of the virus: four of the new cases were discovered in Lagos State, while one was discovered in Ekiti State.

On 19 March, there were four new cases of the virus in Lagos State. Nigerian government also announced that the Italian citizen who brought coronavirus to Nigeria has tested negative and was discharged the following day.

On 21 March, there were ten new cases: seven in Lagos State, three in the FCT.

On 22 March, there were eight new cases: six in Lagos State, one in Oyo State, and one in the FCT.

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 25 March, there were seven new cases: three in Lagos State, one in Osun State, one in Rivers State, and two in the FCT.

On 26 March, there were fourteen new cases: twelve in Lagos State, one in Bauchi State and one in the FCT. Nigeria announced that they were tracing 4,370 suspected cases of the virus.

On 27 March, there were sixteen new cases: eight in Lagos State, three in the FCT, two in Enugu State, two in Oyo State, and one in Edo State. On the same day, Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced that the local governments with the highest number of cases are Eti-Osa and Ikeja.

On 28 March, there were sixteen new cases: seven in Lagos State, four in Oyo State, two in the FCT, one in Osun State, one in Kaduna State, and one in Benue State.

On 29 March, there were fourteen new cases: nine in Lagos State, and five in the FCT.

On 30 March, there were twenty new cases: thirteen in Lagos State, four in the FCT, two in Kaduna State and one in Oyo State. Five persons were discharged with one death. The suspected cases that Nigeria were tracing, rose to 6,000.