In that regard, he insisted that the rising wave of new and more infectious strains of the coronavirus renders cooperation more urgent, when no country can afford the socioeconomic implications of a prolonged lockdown.

In the case of Nigeria, the president said that, with the support of health authorities, laboratories are carrying out tests to detect and search for patients with the virus.

The number of laboratories in Nigeria has grown from four to 140 at present, and isolation centers and emergency hospitalization rooms were also built in record time, the source said.

He added that, together with the creation of 16 centers for infectious diseases, more than 140,000 health workers were trained in Nigeria to treat different diseases, including the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes Covid-19.

In another moment of his speech, the head of State expressed his concern over the uncontrolled and illegal trade of small- and medium-caliber weapons, which he believes has devastating economic and humanitarian consequences in the world, and particularly in Africa.

Buhari, who also called for the reform of the United Nations Security Council, expressed the need for a concerted world association in the fight against cross-border crimes, including terrorism and piracy.

jg/aph/mem/obf/gdc