Nigeria on Saturday recorded 49 new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the country’s total infections to 542, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

In a tweet via its official handle, the NCDC said 23 cases were identified in Lagos, 12 in the FCT, 10 in Kano, two in Ogun and one each in Oyo and Ekiti.

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CASE SUMMARY IN NIGERIA AS AT APRIL 18TH 2020

Abba Kyari

The agency also recorded an increase in the number of deaths to 19, while 166 patients have been discharged.

Nigeria’s number of infections are expected to continue to rise, as the NCDC has said it is ramping up testing across the country.

COVID-19 deaths in Africa have already passed 1,000 and the country announced the death of Abba Kyari, top aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, on Saturday.