The Federal Government of Nigeria has said it was not considering a lockdown despite rising cases of COVID-19 infections across the country.
Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, stated this at the weekly ministerial briefing organized at the State House in Abuja.
He said the number of cases were not threatening enough, yet, for a lockdown to be considered.
Nigeria, on Wednesday recorded 790 cases of new COVID-19 infections, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
The figure was the highest in about six months.
Acccording to Channels Television, a recent surge in infections has been partly attributed to the Delta variant, which is believed to be more contagious and deadlier.
Nigeria is expected to step up its Covid vaccination program after receiving over four million doses of the Moderna vaccine from the US government last week.
Only about one percent of the population has been vaccinated, so far.
The second phase of the national vaccination programme is expected to kick-off next Monday.
FG Receives 177,600 Doses Of J&J Covid Vaccine
The single-shot J&J vaccine was acquired through the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), with support from Afrexim bank.
According to the Africa Centre for Disease Control, the vaccines were partly manufactured in Africa.
The vaccines are expected to be deployed in hard-to-reach areas, to eliminate the need for travel for a second dose.
More of the J&J vaccines are expected in the country. Health Minister Osagie Ehanire said on Thursday Nigeria has procured nearly 40 million doses of the vaccine through AVAT.
Nigeria is expected to step up its Covid vaccination program after receiving over four million doses of the Moderna vaccine from the US government last week.
Only about one percent of the population has been vaccinated, so far.
The second phase of the national vaccination programme is expected to kick-off next Monday.