Pascal Oparada
How much do Nigerians know about the dreaded Covid-19 currently ravaging the globe?
Interesting data shows where the awareness is high in the country and where the government needs to concentrate its energy and resources to create better awareness.
Data from Google Trends show that awareness of the disease is very high in Lagos. This is understandable as the state is the epicentre of the disease in Nigeria.
About 56 per cent of residents in Lagos are searching the Internet wanting to know more about Coronavirus.
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This is followed by Abuja where 11 per cent of residents are seeking knowledge of the disease. Statistics from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control says Abuja has recorded more infections after Lagos.
Awareness of Coronavirus is zero per cent in the South-East despite the fact that the region recorded its first two cases in Enugu.
In Rivers State, which has one case of Covid-19, awareness of the pandemic is zero.
However, in Imo, Oyo and Ogun states, the awareness is on the rise. This may be due to the actions of the various governments in the states.
Imo State has closed markets in the state effective Saturday, March 28. Ogun State may be due to its proximity to Lagos, the epicentre of the pandemic in Nigeria. Oyo State may be connected to the fact that the governor, Seyi Makinde, has imposed curfew in the state to curtail the spread of Coronavirus.
In Delta, Edo, Anambra and Abuja, there is a moderate awareness of Covid-19.
Of interest are Coronavirus-related searches. People in Lagos are seeking to know if there are movements or if the government has announced a total lockdown.
People are asking about the number of Coronavirus cases in Lagos.
People in Rivers State are asking if there is Coronavirus in the state.
As the pandemic rages on, more data would be generated and more people would inundate the internet with search queries about the disease.
