Nigeria Red Cross readies volunteers for virus threat

The Nigeria Red Cross has mobilised some one million volunteers to deal with the possible spread of coronavirus into the country, along with the existing outbreak of Lassa fever.

Its Secretary General Abubakar Ahmed Kende told the BBC's Newsday programme that:

"Nigeria is a highly mobile society and for that reason it makes us highly susceptible to some of these diseases happening in the world."

We are hopeful this disease may not reach Nigeria, not withstanding we have to make every effort to sensitise, mobilise, educate our populace to see that they take necessary steps to prevent this from happening."

We have mobilised, we have given alert to our about one million volunteers across Nigeria to take note of the situation and also be prepared."