The Nigerian government has put six states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on a red alert Following the emergence of the Delta variant of coronavirus infection in the country.
Affected states are spread across South-west, South-south, North-West and North-central, which make up the six geopolitical zones in the country.
The states are Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory FCT, the nation’s capital.
A statement Sunday morning by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, chairs the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, PSC, said that the nation has, in recent time, continued to witness worrisome early signs of the third wave of the pandemic.
He, therefore, advised the concerned states and the country as a whole against losing their guards.
The PSC warned that all States of the Federation should heighten their state of preparedness and continue to enforce all protocols put in place, given the renowned greater ease of spread of the Delta variant.
The statement also announced some recommendations to avoid the spread of infections during and after the celebration of the Islamic festival of Eid-el-Kabir which comes up on Tuesday, July 20.
The committee recommended the decentralisation of the eid prayer on the day of the festival.
It said rather than allowing large gatherings at community central prayer grounds, outside of the neighbourhood mosques where Friday prayers are usually said should be used for the eid prayer.
