By Paul
Carsten, ABUJA Nigeria
The
Nigerian Army is preparing to forcibly transfer the sick to hospital and
enforce curbs on movement to try to shield the country from the coronavirus,
and is leasing equipment for “possible mass burial”, according to an army memo
seen by Reuters.
The memo from Army headquarters also outlines plans
to protect government food storage from looters as Africa’s most populous
nation braces for the illness to spread further in the country.
“Following the rise and continuous spread in cases
of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria, the (Chief of Army Staff) has
deemed it necessary for all to take protective measures to ensure the safety of
(army) personnel and their families,” the memo said.
There are currently 46 confirmed cases in Nigeria,
and one death, but the infection has hit the top levels of society, infecting
President Muhammadu Buhari’s chief of staff.
With a population of 200 million, 20 million of
whom are packed into the commercial capital of Lagos, many fear the virus could
spread quickly without containment.
The memo said the army was suspending leave passes
for all personnel and called for them to be on “maximum security alert and be
ready for deployment.”
The virus has swept across the world, killing
thousands and forcing millions into quarantine. Several nations have activated
armed forces to help combat it.
South Africa deployed its army to enforce a 21-day
lockdown that begins this week, and U.S. President Donald Trump activated the
National Guard in New York, California and Washington.
The U.S., French and Moroccan armies have set up
field hospitals, and Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the army to carry
out drills to increase its readiness.
Nigerian Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed told the
heads of parliament’s two houses that the government would release 6.5 billion
naira ($18 million) to the National Centre for Disease Control to help fight
the virus, the Senate president’s office said in a statement.
And the central bank said it would remain open amid
the global outbreak to ensure “monetary and price stability”.
Also on Wednesday, the governor of the southern
Rivers State said he would close the state’s borders to people crossing from
Thursday.
The state’s capital, Port Harcourt, is the gateway
to the oil-rich Delta region, and companies such as Nigeria LNG and Royal Dutch
Shell have key offices in the city.
Oil provides more than half of Nigeria’s government
revenue.
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