COVID-19: President Buhari approves N5bn intervention fund for NCDC

Stears, a leading media platform, has recently launched a live monitoring feed aimed at updating Nigerians on the current coronavirus situation within the country. This initiative comes as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control confirms 14 new cases, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria to 65. Tokunbo Afikuyomi, the Editor-In-Chief at Stears, joined CNBC Africa to shed more light on this live feed. Afikuyomi highlighted the crucial role of data and information management in containing the spread of COVID-19. He pointed out the challenges of accurately determining the number of cases due to limited testing capacity in Nigeria. Drawing a comparison with South Africa, which has tested over 15,000 people, Afikuyomi emphasized the need for increased testing to bridge the gap between reported and actual cases. Despite commendable efforts by the Nigerian government in disseminating information to the public, Afikuyomi noted concerns over misinformation and fake news, particularly on social media platforms. He stressed the importance of using official government channels for reliable updates to ensure accurate data transmission. The live data platform launched by Stears provides a visual representation of the COVID-19 cases in Nigeria, illustrating the country's curve in relation to the virus spread. Afikuyomi explained that tracking the daily increase in cases is crucial for assessing the effectiveness of containment measures. While Nigeria is currently at the early stages, he suggested that a significant increase in testing is essential to anticipate any flattening of the curve. Addressing the public response to the live monitoring feed, Afikuyomi shared that there has been a substantial increase in site traffic since its launch. With thousands of visitors accessing the platform, Stears aims to meet the growing demand for reliable and up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Nigeria.