Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, as at end of June 2020 was Africa’s third most impacted country only behind South Africa and Egypt.
As Africa’s biggest economy, the federal government has continued to enforce regulations across the board even though most state governments have moved to relax restrictions.
The national response is led by the Presidential Task Force, PTF, led by SGF Boss Mustapha along with a national coordinator and relevant ministers – chief among them, Health, Foreign Affairs and Education ministries. At the heart of the response is the Nigeria Center for Disease Control, NCDC.
This article is dedicated to covering events from the country throughout the month of July. Our May 2020 page and June 2020 coverage also gives you a rundown of major developments.
July 22: 37,801 cases; Ekiti State governor infected
Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, became the latest to contract COVID-19. He made the disclosure via his Twitter account on Wednesday.
“I took my third Covid-19 test yesterday and it came back positive. I’m generally ok and I’m already self isolating at home and receiving the best of care from my medical team. I’m delegating critical tasks to my Deputy but will continue routine duty from home,” his tweet read.
Ekiti, located in southwestern Nigeria is one of few states still enforcing strict virus restrictions including the closure of schools, places of worship; mandatory wearing of face masks among other measures.
The list of infected governors is as follows:
Governor of Abia State Okezie Ikpeazu
Governor of Bauchi State Bala Mohammed
Governor of Kaduna State Nasir El-Rufai
Governor of Ondo State Rotimi Akeredolu
Governor of Oyo State Seyi Makinde (as well as four other members of his cabinet)
Governor of Delta State Arthur Okowa
The Africa Report has published a list of top government personalities who have succumbed to the virus and other officials who have recovered from infection. Among the most recent to be infected are Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Former Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi died on June 25 from complications after contracting the virus. The same was the case with Chief of Staff to President Buhari Mallam Abba Kyari, who died in Lagos after he was transferred from Abuja to receive treatment.
Confirmed cases = 37,801
Active cases = 21,319
Recoveries = 15,677
Number of deaths = 805
John Hopkins Uni stats valid as of July 22, 2020
I took my third Covid-19 test yesterday and it came back positive. I’m generally ok and I’m already self isolating at home and receiving the best of care from my medical team. I’m delegating critical tasks to my Deputy but will continue routine duty from home. JKF— Kayode Fayemi (@kfayemi) July 22, 2020
July 21: 37,225 cases; international flight update
Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika on Tuesday denied reports of October date for resumption of international flights. “International Flight resumption date is not October,” he said in a tweet.
He added that the Nigeria Airs