As the number of COVID-19 infections in Nigeria rises from 151 to 174 on Wednesday, the streets of Abuja have been deserted as the lockdown entered the second day.
Our correspondent reported that many busy areas such as Wuse Market, Federal Secretariat Complex, the Three Arms Zone and Barnex Complex in Wuse 2 were empty of human and vehicular traffic.
The near silence in the city was broken by the sound of a few cars and the eerie echoes from ambulances speeding along the deserted dual carriageways.
The popular Wuse Market, which was opened earlier in the day was closed before 6p.m and the ever-busy environment was deserted.
Many filing stations in the city were not opened for business and some that opened were still selling at N125 per liter against the N123.50 announced by the Federal Government.
For instance, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation’s Mega Station in Wuse Zone 1 was still selling at N125 per litre.
A pump attendant said the management of the station was yet to adjust to the new petrol pump price.
While they did not open for business, the Total Filing Station and the neighbouring Azman Service Station in Wuse still kept the former petrol price on their electronic display boards.
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While Transcorp Hilton sparkled with beautiful lights and its imposing structure, the expansive gates were, however, deserted.
Opposite the hotel, the Forte Oil filing station was selling at N123.50 to the few customers who drove into the station.
Recent infection report by NCDC
While Abuja resident observed the lockdown, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), said the country recorded a total of 23 new cases as on Wednesday evening.
Five of the new cases were from Akwa Ibom State, which has never recorded any case since the outbreak of the deadly virus in the country.
A total of 12 states and the FCT have now recorded cases of the virus.
Other states that recorded new cases same evening were: Lagos that had nine, FCT that got seven, one in Kaduna and one in Bauchi.
With earlier announced cases, the country recorded a total of 35 cases on Wednesday, the highest number of confirmed cases reported in a day since the beginning of the outbreak.
In a tweet from its verified Twitter handle, the NCDC stated, “as at 08:00 p.m 1st April there are 174 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria. Nine have been discharged with two deaths.”
