The federal government of Nigeria has initially responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country with preventive measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 in the country.
Timeline 2020 March Early March, the minister of health in Nigeria, Osagie Ehanire, announced that 60 persons who had contact with the index Italian patient were under isolation, 40 persons in Ogun State and 20 in Lagos State.
On 1 March, four Chinese citizens were quarantined in Plateau State, they all tested negative the following day.
On 3 March, the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu disclosed that two foreign Nationals from an unnamed Asian country has tested negative to the virus.
On 6 March, the Anambra State government announced that five Chinese citizens tested negative for the virus. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control reported that a total of 219 primary and secondary contacts of the index case had been identified and were being actively monitored.
On 9 March, the President Muhammadu Buhari established a Presidential Task Force for the control of the virus in the country.
On 10 March, Turkish Airlines cancelled all their flights to Nigeria due to the virus outbreak.
On 15 March, a woman in Enugu State displayed the symptoms of coronavirus, she tested negative the following day.
On 17 March, Nigeria postponed the 20th national sports festival that was supposed to hold in Benin City, Edo State from 22 March to 1 April.
On 18 March, the management of the National Youth Service Corps suspended the 2020 Batch A stream one 21 days orientation exercise indefinitely. The orientation exercise commenced on 10 March and was expected to end on 30 March, before it was suspended after just 8 days. Later the same day, Nigeria placed a travel ban on 13 countries with high cases of the virus, the countries are; United States, United Kingdom, South Korea, Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, China, Spain, Netherlands, Norway, Japan and Iran. In Katsina State, a Nigerian citizen that returned from Malaysia displayed the symptoms of the virus, he tested negative the following day. Kano State government confirmed that three persons tested negative for the virus in the state. Lagos State government banned religious gatherings of over 50 worshippers for 30 days, Ogun State also banned any gathering of more than 50 people for 30 days. The New Afrika Shrine suspended all their programmes indefinitely. Kwara State and Lagos State announced the indefinite closure of their public and private schools, while Zamfara State, Sokoto State, Katsina State, Niger State, Kano State, Jigawa State, Kebbi State and Kaduna State also closed down their schools for 30 days from 23 March. The Nigeria Football Federation suspended all football activities for four weeks.
On 19 March, Anambra State government announced the closure of their schools and suspension of public gatherings indefinitely, tertiary institutions to close from 20 March, while primary and secondary schools to close from 27 March. Ogun State government extended an earlier ban to schools and religious centres in the state indefinitely. Federal government announced the closure of tertiary institutions, secondary and primary schools. Enugu State government also ordered the closure of all primary and secondary schools in the state from 27 March.
On 20 March, Nigeria extended their travel ban to two more countries, Sweden and Austria. Ekiti State government banned social, political, religious and family gatherings of more than 20 persons. The state also ordered the closure of all their schools from 23 March. Nigeria announced the closure of their international airports, Enugu, Port Harcourt and Kano airports from 21 March. Rivers State government also announced the closure of all their schools and directed the restriction of all religious activities. Osun State government banned any public gatherings of more than 50 persons in the state with immediate effect, including schools, churches and mosques. Delta State government announced the closure of all their schools from 26 March.
On 21 March, Nasarawa State government confirmed that five persons tested negative for the virus in the state. Kebbi State government announced the indefinite closure of all their primary and secondary schools. The Nigerian Railway Corporation also announced the suspension of all passenger services from 23 March. Lagos State government reduced the number of people allowed in any religious or social gathering from 50 to 20. Nigeria announced the closure of the remaining two international airports, Abuja and Lagos, from 23 March. Osun State reviewed their previous ban on public gatherings of more than 50 persons and changed it to a complete ban, enforcing it on all public gatherings in the state under any banner or organisation. Oyo State government ordered the closure of schools in the state. Bayelsa State government also ordered the closure of all schools in the state from 26 March and restriction of all public gatherings above 50 persons. Imo State government also announced the indefinite closure of all schools in their state with immediate effect.
On 22 March, Edo State government announced the closure of all their schools from 23 March.
On 23 March, Ebonyi State government banned all public gatherings in the state, including weddings, seminars, conferences, burials and any other large gatherings. Niger State government announced a shut down in the state, restricting movement from 8am to 8pm everyday, from 25 March. Kano State government suspended all gatherings in the state indefinitely. Rivers State government announced a partial lockdown in their state, closing cinemas, nights clubs, public parks, weddings, burials and religious worship centres from 24 March. Edo State announced an indefinite ban of any gathering of more than 50 people. The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad ordered all courts in Nigeria to shut down from 24 March. Nigeria ordered the closure of all land borders for four weeks and the suspension of Federal Executive Council, (FEC) meetings indefinitely. Anambra State government banned all public gatherings in the state with more than 30 persons, including weddings, festivals, funerals and clubs. The Independent National Electoral Commission announced suspension of all their activities for 14 days. Ondo State government banned all political, religious and social gatherings in the state for 14 days. Oyo State government also banned all social gatherings in the state with more than 30 persons, including religious services, parties, burials and weddings.
On 24 March, Yobe State government announced the closure of all their schools from 26 March. Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board suspended all their activities for two weeks. The Nigerian Senate adjourned plenary to 7 April, while the Nigerian House of Representatives adjourned indefinitely. Edo State government reduced the number of people allowed in any public gathering from 50 to 20, closing markets in the state and allowing only sellers of food items, medicines and other vital commodities to operate. Kaduna State government confirmed that three suspected persons tested negative for the virus in the state. Nasarawa State government ordered the indefinite closure of all their schools with immediate effect. Osun state government banned weekly markets indefinitely in the state. Lagos State government ordered the closure of stores and markets in the state from 26 March, allowing only sellers of food items, medicines, water and other essential commodities to operate. The National Examination Council announced an indefinite postponement of the 2020 common entrance examination into 104 Unity schools in Nigeria, which was supposed to hold on 28 March. Enugu State government banned all social and political gatherings in the state. Actors Guild of Nigeria banned movie sets across Nigeria. Delta State government banned all social gatherings of up to 20 persons, including burials, crusades and ordered the closure of clubs and cinemas with immediate effect. Ondo State government ordered the immediate closure of all markets, shops and malls in the state for seven days. The government also banned clubs, beer parlours and joints, except places where food, water and medicals are sold. Federal Capital Territory Administration ordered the immediate closure of shops in the markets and neighbourhood centres, except those selling food items, medicines and other essential commodities in the FCT. They also ordered the immediate closure of churches and mosques.
On 25 March, Rivers State government announced an indefinite closure of their sea, air and land borders into and out of the state with effect from 26 March. Kogi State government also announced an indefinite closure of their sea and land borders, suspending the activities of commercial motorcycle in the state with effect from 26 March. They also reduced the number of persons in any public gathering to 5. Ekiti State government banned the operations of markets in the state with the exception of those selling essential commodities like food items, water, medicine and medical equipments. Kwara State government ordered the ban of commercial transportation, closure of all mosques and churches and markets with exception of markets selling drugs, food items and other essential commodities. Kano State also announced an indefinite closure of their air and land borders into and out of the state with effect from 27 March. Bauchi State government also announced the closure of markets in the state from 26 March with the exception of those selling essential commodities like food items and medicine. Abia State government banned burial and wedding ceremonies of more than 30 guests. The state also banned religious activities of more than 50 persons for 30 days. Imo State government ordered the indefinite closure of major markets in the state with effect from 28 March. The government also closed its land borders, allowing entry upon screening. Delta State government announced the closure of their borders into and out of their state for two weeks in the first instance. The government announced the closure of Asaba airport with effect from 27 March; land borders with effect from 29 March; malls, supermarkets, markets and shops with effect from 1 April, ordering food sellers to conduct their businesses within the precinct of their homes. The government also directed all residents to stay at home with effect from 1 April. The government announced that the restrictions do not apply to providers of essential services like; security healthcare, directing pharmacies to remain open, water services, fire services, power services, essential departments of media houses and telecommunications companies. Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state stated in a video on his Facebook page which later went viral that "90% of the noise about covid-19 is for Political, Economic, and Financial Material gain". He furthered that the other 10% is for ordinary flu like the common colds Nigerians generally suffer.