Akwa Ibom Intensifies COVID-19 Monitoring After Cross River Records Fresh Case

The Akwa Ibom State Government has stepped up COVID-19 surveillance and emergency preparedness measures following the confirmation of a fresh coronavirus case in neighbouring Cross River State, raising concerns about possible cross-border transmission in the South-South region.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Ekem Emmanuel, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Uyo, saying Governor Umo Eno had directed health authorities to immediately activate heightened monitoring across the state’s borders, healthcare institutions and communities.

According to the commissioner, disease surveillance officers and rapid response teams have been placed on high alert to ensure early detection and prompt management of any suspected infections. The move comes amid renewed public health concerns after Cross River State recently confirmed what officials described as the first reported case in the latest outbreak cycle.

Health authorities in Akwa Ibom said surveillance operations would focus on major entry points into the state, including motor parks, border communities and health facilities, especially because of the frequent movement of people between Akwa Ibom and Cross River.

Dr Emmanuel urged residents not to panic but to remain cautious and comply with basic public health safety measures that became familiar during the peak of the global pandemic. He advised citizens to wash their hands regularly with soap and clean water, use alcohol-based sanitisers where necessary and wear face masks in crowded or poorly ventilated environments.

He also encouraged residents to avoid close contact with individuals showing symptoms associated with respiratory infections and to seek immediate medical attention if they experience fever, cough, breathing difficulty or related symptoms.

The commissioner stressed that healthcare workers across the state had been instructed to maintain a high level of vigilance and strictly observe infection prevention and control procedures in hospitals and clinics.

To strengthen the response framework, the Akwa Ibom Ministry of Health said it would continue working closely with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and other health partners to improve monitoring, reporting and emergency coordination.

Public health experts say the renewed surveillance is critical because Akwa Ibom remains a major commercial and transit hub in the Niger Delta region, with regular movement of traders, oil workers and travellers between neighbouring states and international locations.

Nigeria experienced significant disruption during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2022, when restrictions on movement, economic shutdowns and pressure on health facilities affected millions of residents. Although infection rates and fatalities have since reduced considerably, health officials have repeatedly warned that the virus still exists and could resurface if monitoring systems weaken.

The latest development in Cross River has therefore triggered precautionary actions among nearby states seeking to prevent a wider spread. On April 21, the Cross River Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Ayuk, announced that the state had recorded a confirmed COVID-19 case involving a Chinese national.

The announcement revived memories of Nigeria’s first COVID-19 case in February 2020, which also involved an Italian expatriate who arrived in Lagos from Europe before health authorities successfully contained the spread at the time.

Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom Government reassured residents that there was no confirmed outbreak in the state and appealed to the public to rely only on verified information from official channels. Authorities warned against circulating unverified reports capable of causing fear or misinformation.

To support public enquiries and emergency reporting, the Ministry of Health has established dedicated help lines managed by the Director of Public Health, Dr Bassey Akpan, and the State Epidemiologist, Dr Edet Eneh.