ABUJA – The consumer protection agency in Nigeria on Wednesday, January 29 closed a Chinese-owned supermarket selling “illegally imported seafood and meat” in the capital, Abuja, over ongoing fears about the spread of coronavirus, reports BBC.
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.
The disease which has claimed over 100 in China causes illness from common cold, severe acute.
Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) said they made the discovery during a “surprise” inspection.
The agency said that many of the products it found in the supermarket had irregular or expired dates.
The goods were reportedly stored in a hidden area of the supermarket.
UPDATE: FCCPC inspected Panda Supermarket; Jabi on credible reports that it discriminated & had a concealed area for Asian nationals. Allegation confirmed, seafood & animals imported illegally from China discovered. Store closed in abundance of caution considering Coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/g5WInVcJm2
— FCCPC Nigeria (@fccpcnigeria) January 29, 2020
The new coronavirus is believed to have emerged from illegally traded wildlife at a seafood market in China’s Wuhan city.
On January 28, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah ordered the Minister of Health, Dr. Ruth Aceng to present before Parliament a statement alerting Ugandans of the coronavirus.
Oulanyah’s directive was in response to a concern raised by Apollo Masika (Bubulo County) who asked the government to take precautions about the prevailing coronavirus in China given the trading relationship the two countries have during the plenary sitting.
However, delivering a statement to members of parliament on January 29 during plenary the state minister of health, Hon. Robinah Nabbanja said that the public should remain calm as no cases have been reported in Uganda.
