According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nigeria has identified a new COVID-19 case in Cross River State. Dr. Henry Ayuk, the State Commissioner for Health, confirmed that the patient is a 53-year-old Chinese national employed by Lafarge in Akamkpa Local Government Area, who arrived in Nigeria on March 17 and subsequently became ill.
Dr. Ayuk stated that the individual was initially treated at a state medical center before being transferred to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), where samples were collected and tested positive for COVID-19 following established procedures.
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He expressed relief that the patient is recovering and emphasized the state’s commitment to managing any detected health issues without inciting alarm.
He added, “We will focus on effective surveillance and containment of any outbreaks. Our goal is to manage the situation effectively, ensuring public calm.”
State Epidemiologist Dr. Inyang Ekpenyong indicated that an emergency response has been initiated, involving contact tracing and identification of potential contacts.
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She mentioned that the last confirmed case in Cross River was recorded in 2022 and expressed concern that this new infection might have been acquired locally based on the symptom timeline. She further noted, “We have activated the emergency response center and dispatched rapid response teams to Akamkpa, where the individual works.”
Dr. Ekpenyong acknowledged the challenge of entirely eradicating the disease but stressed the importance of containment efforts to prevent an outbreak.
Dr. Yewande Olatunde, the WHO Coordinator in Cross River, also called for preventive measures, reminding the public that COVID-19 remains a threat and that proactive steps are essential for protection.

