(Adds finance minister)
By Paul Carsten
ABUJA, March 25 (Reuters) - 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.
($1 = 360.0000 naira)