In his broadcast to the nation on Sunday, March 29, 2020, President @MBuhari declared that “in Nigeria’s fight against Covid-19, there is no such thing as an overreaction or under-reaction. It is all about the right reaction by the right agencies and trained experts.”
Below is a chronicle of some of the reactions by the agencies and trained experts, under the leadership of President @MBuhari. All these are apart from the impressive job being done by some state governors.
January 28, 2020 (one month before the first case of #CoronaVirus). @NigeriaGov assured Nigerians of its readiness to strengthen surveillance at 5 international airports: Enugu, Lagos, Rivers, Kano and the FCT.
January 28: The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (@NCDCgov) announced that it had already set up #coronavirus group and was ready to activate its Incident Management System if any case emerged in Nigeria.
January 31: @NigeriaGov set up a Coronavirus Preparedness Group to mitigate the impact of the virus if it eventually spreads to the country. On the same day, @WHO listed Nigeria among other 13 African countries identified as high-risk for the spread of the virus.
February 27: Nigeria reports its first #COVID19 case
Early March: Nigeria’s Minister of Health, @DrEOEhanire, announced that 60 persons who had contact with the index Italian patient were under isolation – 40 in Ogun State and 20 in Lagos State.
Early March: Nigeria’s Minister of Health, @DrEOEhanire, announced that 60 persons who had contact with the index Italian patient were under isolation – 40 in Ogun State and 20 in Lagos State.
March 9: President @MBuhari established a Presidential Task Force for the control of the virus in the country #PTFCOVID19
March 17: Nigeria postponed the 20th National Sports Festival that was billed to hold in Benin City, Edo State from 22 March to 1 April.
March 17: Nigeria postponed the 20th National Sports Festival that was billed to hold in Benin City, Edo State from 22 March to 1 April.
March 18: Presidential Task Force Press Briefing during which the Federal Government announced that travellers from 13 countries would no longer be allowed to enter Nigeria until the #COVID19 pandemic is over. #PTFCOVID19
March 18: Nigeria announces it is restricting entry into the country for travellers from China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, United States, Norway, United Kingdom, Netherlands & Switzerland. These are countries with over 1,000 cases domestically.
.@NigeriaGov also:
stopped issuance of visas from the countries
suspended issuance of visa on arrival to travelers from the countries. All travelers returning from these countries prior to restriction to be in supervised self-isolation,monitored by NCDC & Port Health Services.
stopped issuance of visas from the countries
suspended issuance of visa on arrival to travelers from the countries. All travelers returning from these countries prior to restriction to be in supervised self-isolation,monitored by NCDC & Port Health Services.
March 18: 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.
March 18: The Nigeria Football Federation suspended all football activities for four weeks.
March 20: @NigeriaGov announced closure of tertiary educational institutions, secondary and primary.
March 20: Nigeria extended travel ban to two more countries, Sweden and Austria.
March 20: @NigeriaGov announced closure of tertiary educational institutions, secondary and primary.
March 20: Nigeria extended travel ban to two more countries, Sweden and Austria.
March 20: Nigeria announced closure of International Airports in Enugu, Port Harcourt, Kano
March 21: Nigerian Railway Corporation announced suspension of all passenger services from 23 March
March 21: Nigeria announced closure of remaining two Int’l Airports: Abuja & Lagos.
March 21: Nigerian Railway Corporation announced suspension of all passenger services from 23 March
March 21: Nigeria announced closure of remaining two Int’l Airports: Abuja & Lagos.
March 23: The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad ordered all courts in Nigeria to shut down from 24 March.
March 23: Nigeria announced the suspension of Federal Executive Council, (FEC) and National Council of State (NCS) meetings indefinitely.
March 23: Nigeria announced the suspension of Federal Executive Council, (FEC) and National Council of State (NCS) meetings indefinitely.
March 23: The Independent National Electoral Commission @inecnigeria announced suspension of all activities for 14 days.
March 24: The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) suspends activities for two weeks.
March 24: The National Examination Council announced indefinite postponement of 2020 common entrance examination into 104 Unity schools in Nigeria, scheduled to hold on 28 March.
March 24: The National Examination Council announced indefinite postponement of 2020 common entrance examination into 104 Unity schools in Nigeria, scheduled to hold on 28 March.
March 26: @NigeriaGov received 107 boxes of medical supplies from China, comprising surgical masks, protective clothing, face shields and testing kits.
March 27: President @MBuhari approved released 10 Billion Naira to Lagos State @followlasg and 5 billion Naira special intervention fund to @NCDCgov to equip, expand and provide personnel to its facilities and laboratories across the country.
March 27: Circular issued by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF) directing public servants on Grade Levels 12 and below on non-essential roles to work from home.
