With a population of about 200 million and the COVID-19 disease ravaging as a pandemic for more than four months, Nigeria is reporting only 134,257 tests as at June 30. The question that is now being asked is: has the incidence of COVID-19 peaked in Nigeria? 138,462 tests out of 200 million people represents only 0.069% of persons tested. This is an infinitesimal number. With 25,649 cases confirmed as at June 30, this accounts for 0.012% of the entire population and 18.5% of the tests conducted. Community transmission is likely to increase further with the ban on inter-state travel lifted. The Federal Government has also announced that certain minimal levels of academic activities will be allowed to resume, particularly allowing exit classes to take lessons and exams. A lot of parents are concerned about their children and may be resisting this. Yet, the country stands to lose a lot if all forms of educational activities remain at a halt. The use of e-learning for teaching purposes in Nigeria has not had a widespread effectiveness as technological development has limited prevalence.
The
figures from Nigeria’s COVID infections is troubling, especially given the
number of tests that have taken place measured against the population of the
country and concerns being raised about community infections. With limited
testing capacity, it is certain that Nigeria is yet to ascertain the extent of
COVID-19 spread in the country and is not well placed to gauge the quantum of
measures it needs to put in place to tackle it. Ultimately, the solution lies
in finding the cure or the “magic bullet” of vaccine that will help return Nigeria
and the rest of the world to normalcy.