Matilda Omonaiye/
Just hours to the beginning of a near-total lockdown by Governor Nyesom Wike, Rivers State recorded its first case of coronavirus.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced this today.
The NCDC also disclosed that cases of coronavirus in the country have hit 51.
The NCDC said in a tweet, “Five new cases of #COVID19 have been confirmed in Nigeria: 2 in FCT, 2 in Lagos & 1 in Rivers
“3 are returning travellers into Nigeria & 2 are close contacts of a confirmed case.
“As at 11:25pm 25th March, there are 51 confirmed cases, 2 discharged, 1 death.”
Wike had earlier today announced the closure of air, sea and land borders into the state with effect from tomorrow.
The governor, in a state broadcast, said the move was to ensure that coronavirus does not spread to the state.
He vowed that passengers would not be allowed into the state after landing at the Port Harcourt airport.
He said, “The State Security Council has taken the following painful decisions: With effect from 6pm on Thursday, March 26, 2020, the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, will not be open to air traffic.
“While we may not have the right to stop flights from entering Port Harcourt, we cannot allow anybody coming from the airport to enter our state. We are confident that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and other federal agencies will cooperate with us. All land and sea borders will be closed.
“Vehicular movements in an out of the state have been banned. In essence, no vehicle will leave Rivers State for any other state and no vehicle will be allowed to enter the state. New measures will be put in place until further notice.”
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