House Of Reps. Resolves To Ban Visitors From The National Assembly Complex, Until Further Notice, Open Worship, Public Gatherings, Nationwide

The House of Representatives, has on Wednesday, resolved to ban the entry of visitors to the premises of the National Assembly.

This was sequel to a motion of urgent national importance, moved by an All Progressives Congress, APC, Honourable Member, Mukhtar Chawai (Kaduna, APC), on Wednesday, during plenary.

The motion was originally on the need to ban entry into Nigeria, persons from countries badly hit by the coronavirus, but was overtaken by events.

The House, however, decided to move for amendments of the motion.

The Federal Government, on Wednesday morning, announced the restrictions of entry into the country, for travellers from 13 high-risk Covid-19 countries.

The countries are: China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, United States of America, Norway, United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Switzerland.

Each of the countries has over 1,000 cases of the disease, according to the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, which released the statement on Wednesday morning.

While adopting the amendments, the Lawmakers resolved to stop all open worship and public gatherings in the country, but refused to shut down Schools, in an attempt to curtail the possible spread of the coronavirus in the county.

While resolving to restrict movement and shut out visitors from accessing the National Assembly, the Lawmakers resolved that infrared thermometers will be put in place, to check staff and members of both Chambers.

They also agreed that the country should sign an agreement with countries producing test kits, and the necessary equipment to manage the virus.

Nigeria is one of the six African countries that have reported at least a case of the coronavirus on the continent.

Nigeria recorded its first case of the coronavirus, on February 27, in an Italian Businessman, who had flown into the country for business.

The man had spent two days within the country, and visited Lagos and Ogun States, before he fell ill and was diagnosed of Covid-19.

The country recorded five new cases of Covid-19, on Wednesday, bringing to eight, the total number of confirmed cases in the country.

All five cases have travel histories to the United Kingdom and United States.

Of the cases, four were detected from people who flew into the country, and one from an American who had entered into the country through the land borders.

So far, nobody has died from the virus in Nigeria, and one of the initial three cases has completely recovered.