Coronavirus: Nigeria confirms twelve new cases of COVID-19, returnees soars Osun’s figure

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Nigeria has recorded twelve new cases of #COVID19 reported on the twitter handle of agency; 9 in Osun, 2 in Edo and 1 in Ekiti State
As at 12:30 pm 1st April there are 151 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria. Nine have been discharged with two deaths.

Lagos State and Abuja have been shut down since Monday night, a move by the Nigerian government to stop the spread of the dreaded virus. Both cities have recorded the highest number of the cases.

However, some other states have also some form of measures to as well curb the spread.

So far, three state governors  Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde. President Muhammadu Buhari Chief of State Abba Kyari are among the people infected by the virus.

Story of Osun returnees

On Friday, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, reached out to Mr Oyetola, informing him of six buses conveying indigenes of the state, who were stranded at the state’s boundary with Benin Republic. The development, Lagos Panorama learnt, was a result of the closure of all international entry points to the state by the state government.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by Osun State’s commissioner for information, Funke Egbemode, Mr Oyetola was appreciative of the support granted the returnees, “who were not only allowed access to pass through the state but were also escorted by security operatives from the state.”

Titled, “Covid-19: Oyetola thanks Governor Abiodun for Assisting Osun Returnees,” the statement reads in part; “Governor Oyetola said that beyond the information, the Ogun State Government also graciously provided security escort that accompanied the returnees to Osun.

“Governor Oyetola thanked the Ogun State governor and the entirety of the state, for approaching the situation with a brotherly understanding.”

The returnees, mostly from Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire’s densely populated economic capital, had returned home to avoid the planned lockdown of the city by the Ivorian government.

Following the record of the first death out of 165 cases in the country as of Saturday, the government locked down the city on Monday, barring movement except of people on essential duties.

Mr Omipidan told our reporter on the telephone that on their arrival in the state, the returnees were led to their hometown, Ejigbo, but restricted from mingling with the people as they were camped separately.

“The 127 of them were camped within the dormitory of a high school in the town and they were barred from moving out of the camp. The government has since been responsible for their welfare while their samples were taken for screening for the Coronavirus disease.

“However, on Monday evening, results of 24 out of the 127 samples taken indicated that three were already positive. So as at Tuesday, we were still awaiting the results for the remaining 103.”

How nine tested positive

Findings by Lagos Panorama revealed that late on Tuesday when the results of additional 47 of the 103 returnees were released by the accredited testing centre at the Redeemed University, Ede, nine more tested positive, increasing the number of confirmed cases in the state to 14.

Lagos Panorama learnt the result was immediately forwarded to the NCDC for proper recording and announcement.

A member of the state’s Covid-19 task force, who does not want to be named, told our reporter that it was shocking that additional nine had tested positive on Tuesday evening.

“It is a sad development that additional nine tested positive again. It has put the state in dire straits. We are still awaiting the result for 56 others, so there is no doubt the tally may increase,” the official said.

Governor boosts combat efforts

Apparently due to the rising number of confirmed cases in the state, the state government has set aside partisan considerations and intensified  efforts to boost the fight against the rampaging disease.

Apart from the task force involving medical experts and other stakeholders, the Governor Oyetola on Tuesday announced a 21-member welfare committee for the indigent.

Meanwhile, Osun state governor, Gboyega Oyetola has called on the federal government not to limit the lockdown directive to Lagos, Ogun and Abuja but the entire country.

The Governor said Osun may be having a bigger case comparable to that of Lagos and Abuja if adequate steps are not taken.

The governor is now calling for restriction of intra and inter state movements of people to contain the spread of the pandemic.

Governor Oyetola also appealed to the federal government to come to the aid of states in terms of palliative.

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