The federal government Tuesday inaugurated a presidential task force for the control of the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19). The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, who inaugurated the task force, said its composition by President Muhammadu Buhari was necessary to monitor developments around the world on the outbreak of the contagion. The task force is to be chaired by the SGF. The task force has as members the Ministers of Health, Foreign Affairs, Interior, Aviation, Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development, Education, Information, Environment and Minister of State for Health. Others are the DG DSS, DG National Centre for Disease Control and World Health Organization representative in Nigeria.
Mustapha also announced the appointment of a National Coordinator for Coronavirus control, Dr. Sani Aliyu, as a member of the Task Force. The national coordinator will be responsible for cohesion and efficiency in the roles by the different agencies, operating in treatment of the national response strategy. The members of the task force immediately went into a closed door meeting after the inauguration. Mustapha said given that the actions by different countries all over the world indicated that COVID – 19 is a threat to humanity, Nigeria’s response must also be firm, scientific and methodical.
The time line for the activities of the task force is six month. In addition, its term of reference include strengthening the national response strategy, particularly in the area of testing, containment and management of Coronavirus and building awareness among the populace. The task force can also advise government to declare a national emergency as part of the containment measures when necessary and direct the deployment of any relevant national assets when deemed expedient.
The inauguration of the task force came as Nigeria recorded its third case of the virus with Lagos State asking passengers on plane that conveyed the third coronavirus patient to Nigeria to self-isolate for 14 days. Lagos State health commissioner Akin Abayomi revealed that the third coronavirus patient was a Nigerian, who returned from Britain last Friday. “If you are a passenger on flight BA 75 that arrived in Lagos on 13th March, 2020, stay at home and isolate yourself for 14 days,” Abayomi tweeted Tuesday. Lagos State health ministry said the patient observed self-isolation, developed symptoms and tested positive for the coronavirus. Nigeria’s minister of health Dr. Osagie Ehanire said the patient, a 30-year-old female, is clinically stable and is being treated at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Lagos.
Already, the Nigerian Government has started tracing those on the same flight with the unnamed patient. Ehanire said he expected the number to be minimal “because of her sensible decision to go into self-isolation from the time of her arrival. We commend her for following the recommended guidelines to the letter. The Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) will continue to assess the situation and adjust the response accordingly,” the minister said, adding: “It is important to note that many people who are infected with coronavirus will experience only mild symptoms and recover without incident. Of great concern are those with existing underlying medical conditions and senior citizens, who are known to be more vulnerable. We strongly advise these citizens to stay more at home.”
Nigeria on Thursday, February 28, 2020, confirmed its first case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Lagos State. The first patient is an Italian citizen, who returned from Milan, Italy to Lagos on Tuesday, February 25 2020. He was confirmed by the Virology Laboratory at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, which is part of the Laboratory Network at the Nigeria Center for Disease Control. Two weeks after, a second coronavirus index in Nigeria was confirmed in Lagos State. Ehanire at a press conference in Benin City, Edo State, said that the new patient had contact with the Italian man who was first infected. The second patient has since tested negative to the virus.