Nigeria extends COVID-19 lock down in major cities

By Olarewaju Kola

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AA) - Nigeria on Monday extended a complete lockdown in major cities for another 14 days as part of measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus, the country’s president announced on Monday.

In an address to the nation, Mohammadu Buhari said the decision was taken due to increasing community spread of the coronavirus.

"It has become necessary to extend the current restriction of movement in Lagos and Ogun States as well as the Federal Capital Territory for another 14 days," the president said.

He said the confirmed cases of coronavirus have almost doubled from its initial 131 cases on March 29 -- when he announced the lockdown for the first time -- to 320 on Monday.

Nigeria recorded the first confirmed case of the coronavirus on Feb. 27 in Lagos, nation's commercial hub. The disease has since spread to 20 of total 36 states.

The National Centre for Disease control put the death from the pandemic at 10, while over 85 people have been treated and discharged from isolation centers.