First case of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been confirmed by Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, in Lagos State, Nigeria.
Ehanire confirmed the case in a statement issued in the early hours of Friday, February 28.
The statement read: “The case involves an Italian citizen who works in Nigeria and just returned from Milan, Italy on the 25th of February 2020.”
The Italian citizen was confirmed to be positive by the Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, part of the Laboratory Network of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The minister, however, noted that the patient is clinically stable, with no serious symptoms, and is being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.
Earlier, The Herald reported that federal government donated the sum of 235,000 RMB (over N12million) to Nigerians living in Wuhan, the epidemic center of coronavirus in China.
A statement issued by Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), stated that the gesture was part of the various interventions of the government to the welfare of Nigerians in China.
The Herald gathered that the statement which was signed on Thursday, February 27, by the head, media relations of NIDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said in appreciation of the gift, Nigerians in China sent ‘thank you’ letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The letter was signed by the acting president of Nigerians In Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) China, Justina Obaoye Ajala and sent to chairman/ceo of NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
The letter read: “On behalf of NIDO China, we will like to appreciate the government of the federal republic of Nigeria, ministry of foreign affairs, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) and the Embassy of Federal Republic of Nigeria in China for the immense support and encouragement during the outbreak of the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) which originated in Wuhan, China.
“We want to use this opportunity to appreciate the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the leadership of His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari for the generous financial support of the sum of 235,000 RMB provided for Nigerians in Wuhan.