Coronavirus: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala worries for Africa

By Nimot Adetola Sulaimon

Nigerian economist and two-time Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has decried her worries for the containment of the pandemic coronavirus in Africa.

The former Managing-Director of Operations in World Bank wrote on her official page; ”#COVID19 Africa’s window for containing is narrowing! As of March 28, there are 4,106 cases in 46 countries with 124 deaths. Still too many reports and videos of people gathering in churches, mosques, and markets. Spread the word! Don’t congregate. Save lives!”.

#COVID19 Africa’s window for containment is narrowing! As of March 28, there are 4,106 cases in 46 countries with 124 deaths. Still too many reports and videos of people gathering in churches, mosques and markets. Spread the word! Don't congregate. Save lives!

— Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (@NOIweala) March 29, 2020

Her statement is in line with the directives from the World Health Organisation, the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to maintain social distancing.

Many states in Nigeria have embarked on a partial lockdown to curb the spread of the pandemic coronavirus.