Nigeria records second death from coronavirus

Nigeria has recorded its second death from the coronavirus pandemic.

The minister of health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, made this known during the presidential task force briefing on COVID-19 in Abuja, on Monday.

Nigeria has recorded 111 coronavirus cases spread across 10 states and the federal capital territory.

A former managing director of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Suleiman Achimugu, is the first victim of the disease in Nigeria.

Achimugu, who died last Monday, also had underlying medical issues and had been undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.

Enahire said the second victim, whose identity was not disclosed, had serious underlying health issues.

He said the federal ministry of health is working closely with states and the presidential task force on COVID-19 to review response activities and institute measures to protect the health and well being of Nigerians.

“Majority of them are persons who came from overseas and the others have been traced as close contacts of such returnees,” he said.

“The high number of imported cases in Lagos and Abuja is directly due to their function as the country gateway for air travels.

“Till date, three persons have been discharged after successful treatments but sadly, another fatality was recorded over the weekend in the person of a patient who had severe underlying illnesses.

“We have intensified contact-tracing and our strategy remains to promptly detect cases, isolate them and follow up with their contacts and also isolate and treat in order to reduce the spread of the infection.”