Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Lagos State Primary Health Care Board has issued a firm assurance that infection prevention and control (IPC) measures remain fully operational across all its primary healthcare centres, a directive triggered by the confirmation of a new COVID-19 case in Cross River State after a years-long lull.
The board's Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Mustafa, gave the guarantee in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, April 26, 2026. He said protocols established before and during the peak of the pandemic have not been relaxed but have been integrated into routine healthcare delivery to curb not just the resurgence of the virus, but a wide range of infectious diseases.
Mustafa’s comments follow an announcement by the Cross River State Government on Tuesday, April 21, confirming that a 53-year-old Chinese expatriate had tested positive for the virus. The patient, who works at a company in Akamkpa Local Government Area, arrived in Nigeria from China on March 17 and began showing symptoms on April 10. He is currently receiving treatment at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) and is reported to be in stable condition. The state has since activated its Emergency Operations Centre and deployed rapid response teams to the area, launching contact tracing and line-listing of individuals who may have interacted with the patient.
While the Cross River case has raised public health concerns, Mustafa stated that Lagos has not recorded a corresponding increase in infections. He credited widespread vaccination and booster campaigns with strengthening herd immunity, which has significantly reduced virus transmission and the severity of the disease in the community. “We cannot say COVID-19 has completely left us. What has changed is that vaccination has improved immunity, making most infections milder and less likely to result in severe outcomes,” Mustafa said.
However, he disclosed that COVID-19 vaccines are currently out of stock nationwide, adding that the federal government is making efforts to secure new supplies to replenish the exhausted inventory. “We had vaccines before, but they have been exhausted,” he said, noting that once new doses are available, the public will again have access. In the interim, Mustafa emphasized that IPC protocols—hand hygiene, use of alcohol-based sanitisers where running water is unavailable, and mandatory mask use for individuals showing respiratory symptoms—remain strictly enforced. Healthcare workers are also required to use gloves on a per-patient basis and ensure proper disposal to prevent cross-contamination.
The Permanent Secretary acknowledged that while infrastructure and supplies are largely in place, there is room to strengthen compliance and public awareness. He warned that Nigeria’s high level of internal and cross-border movement continues to pose a risk, and that Lagos, as the country’s economic hub, remains particularly vulnerable. “COVID-19 brought IPC into the spotlight, but these measures are for all infections,” Mustafa reiterated.
The Cross River government has urged residents not to panic, confirming that only one case has been recorded and that identified contacts are being closely monitored. The Senate has mandated its committee on health to investigate the circumstances surrounding the new infection. Meanwhile, World Health Organisation (WHO) officials in Cross River have stressed the importance of sustained surveillance, risk communication, and the availability of testing materials.
For residents of Lagos, Mustafa’s message is clear: vigilance has not waned, and the public health machinery remains on standby. While the virus has not disappeared, the state is focused on preventing a full-blown outbreak by maintaining the hygiene and safety protocols that proved effective during the height of the pandemic.
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