As Coronavirus continue to ravage countries across the world, Nigeria Senate on Tuesday advised Nigerians to stop travelling to the virus ravaged countries as part of preventive measures.
Senate Committee Chairman on Health, Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloreigbe who came on order 13 said, about 135 countries have been affected with the virus so far.
The lawmaker who was excited that only two contacts have been recorded so far in Nigeria with one recuperating said there was need for Nigerians to be observant.
He also said, about 27 African countries have been affected with South Africa on lockdown, noting that preventive measures remain the most effective way of avoiding COVID-19.
“I think we are aware of COVID-19 affecting 135 countries as at today.”
“About 27 African countries have been affected with South Africa being the highest which has been on lockdown and in Nigeria, only two contacts are recorded with one discharged.”
“I want to advise that Nigerians should be observant and avoid hand shakes.
“Nigerians should also stop going to countries that are affected and Nigeria need to increase its capacity to curtail this.
Reacting, Senate President, Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan decried that there were few testing centres in the country.
“We have only five centres with three in the South and only one in Abuja and the north.
“What the Chairman of Senate Committee on Health said is to highlight what the World Health Organization has been saying.
“This is one issue that is not limited to government alone and Nigeria is very fortunate that only two has been confirmed, but things should not be taken for granted.
“So far, the government is doing a lot in terms of establishing testing centres. There is no testing centre in the entire Southeast. There is no testing centre in the entire North.
“Each state are already building isolation centres and there is a need for the Federal Ministry of Health to spell standards on how isolation centres are built so that what you see in Kogi is what you will see in other states.”
