Our region accounts for 54% of Nigeria’s COVID-19 cases, says Northern govs

Northern governors have claimed the North chalks up 54 percent of the total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country.

The governors stated this on Wednesday during the fourth teleconference on the COVID-19 response by the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF).

In a statement issued by Macham Makut, the Director of  Press and Public Affairs to the forum’s Chairman and Plateau State Governor, Solomon Lalong, the governors revealed that the northern region also accounted for 70 per cent of the new coronavirus infections in Nigeria.

This governors’ claim comes about the same time when the World Health Organisation (WHO), said Africa has made significant progress in its effort to combat spread of the killer virus/

Speaking on Wednesday the Africa.com webinar series session 6 titled “What’s the real story behind Africa’s COVID-19 figures?” Director of the WHO Regional Office for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, said the continent has so far surpassed expectations in tackling spread of the disease.

She said: “We are seeing fewer cases than expected. For West Africa, it was 16 per cent of daily growth rate before April 1. Number of cases expected on May 17 was 1,260, 871 but number of cases reported was 24,345. Daily growth rate is now 6.5 per cent.

“For Central Africa, it was 14 per cent of daily growth rate before April 1. Number of cases expected on May 17 was 149,353, but number of cases reported was 8,021. Daily growth rate is now 4 per cent.”