The NCDC on Monday said four states that had not recorded any case of COVID-19 were not sending enough samples to its laboratories for testing

The NCDC Director-General, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, who disclosed this at a press conference of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, said Cross River, Kogi, Nasarawa and Yobe states had not recorded any case of the virus.

Ihekweazu said,

“There are only four states with zero case in Nigeria: Cross River, Kogi, Nasarawa and Yobe states. We are not satisfied with the number of samples collected from these states. We need to test more and to do it, we need more samples.

“Sample collection is the responsibility of states. We are really encouraging public health teams in these states. Collect samples and send to us.”

Meanwhile, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Monday ordered a nationwide curfew from 8pm to 6am beginning from Monday next week to curb COVID-19 spread.

He also ordered two-week total lockdown in Kano State with immediate effect.

Buhari had, on March 30, ordered lockdown for an initial period of 14 days in the federal capital Territory, Lagos and, Ogun states, followed by two-week extension, which ended at 11.59 pm on Monday. Several other states introduced similar restrictions.

However, the President, in a televised address on Monday, approved a “phased and gradual easing” of the lockdown in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun states.

He, however, extended the lockdown until May 4, when the nationwide curfew would take effect.

Buhari said,

“In line with the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the various Federal Government committees that had reviewed socio-economic matters and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, I have approved a phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun states effective from Monday, May 4, 2020.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the lockdown in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun states shall remain in place until these new ones come into effect on Monday, 4th May 2020.

“However, this will be followed strictly with aggressive reinforcement of testing and contact tracing measures while allowing the restoration of some economic and business activities in certain sectors.”