The Nigerian government has declared 22 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 13 states as those recording high cases of COVID-19 infection.
Nigeria has a total of 774 local governments in its 36 states.
The National Incident Manager (NIM) of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Mukhtar Muhammad, while speaking at a PTF briefing, said the 22 LGAs were identified after critical analysis of the pandemic.
He said the LGAs, mostly in the state capitals, contributed over 95 per cent of new cases recorded in the last six weeks.
Ngeria has recorded an average of over 1,000 daily cases in the last six weeks as the country experiences the second wave of the virus.
The 22 LGAs are: Nkanu West (Enugu); Abuja Municipal (FCT); Gwagwalada (FCT); Gombe (Gombe); Chikun (Kaduna); Kaduna North; Kaduna South; Nassarawa (Kano); Katsina (Katsina); Ilorin South (Kwara); Ilorin West (Kwara); Eti-Osa (Lagos); Ikeja (Lagos); Kosofe (Lagos); Lagos Mainland (Lagos); Keffi (Nasarawa); Lafia (Nasarawa); Ibadan North (Oyo); Jos North (Plateau); Jos South (Plateau); Port-Harcourt (Rivers); and Wamako (Sokoto).
Low testing
Mr Muhammed explained that some states are not producing data of people infected with the virus due to low or zero testing of suspected cases.
He said such states are probably at much higher risk than the states that are currently known as high-burdened states.
“In addition to these, we have states where data is not coming forth. If we don’t test, your data will not be analysed and if your data is not analysed, we won’t know the level of the pandemic in your state,” Mr Muhammed said.
“Notable among the states are Yobe, Jigawa, Zamfara and Kebbi and of course Kogi that has not been reporting at all.”
