The global fight against the rapidly spreading COVID-19 virus continues, with nations worldwide implementing measures, testing drugs and vaccines, and devising strategies for effective socio-economic activities. Nigeria is actively involved in these efforts, navigating its unique challenges and responses to the pandemic.

Between July 8 and July 13, Nigeria tested 14,378 individuals for coronavirus, confirming 3,367 positive cases. While a significant figure, this is a reduction in tests from the 24,796 people tested between July 2 and July 7, which yielded 2,769 confirmed cases. This trend suggests an increasing infectiousness rate within the population. Currently, Nigeria reports 33,616 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 13,792 discharged patients and 754 deaths. The country holds the third-highest number of cases in Africa and ranks 48th globally.

In response to the severe impact on education, the Federal Government released new rules and guidelines for school reopening. Developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, Federal Ministry of Health, and health safety experts, these guidelines mandate students and pupils to maintain a 2-meter social distance. They also recommend the upgrade of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure to ensure high hygiene standards in schools. Although a specific reopening date was not proposed, these measures are hoped to expedite the return to normalcy for the educational sector.

The judicial system has also adapted, with lawyers and judges increasingly using virtual courts to conduct proceedings and fulfill legal duties, aiming to curb the virus's spread. However, the legality of online courts faced debate, with critics citing section 36, subsections 3 and 4 of the Nigerian constitution, which guarantees public hearing of court cases. The argument was that virtual proceedings might not satisfy the public hearing requirement. To resolve this, the acting Attorney General of Lagos, Moyosore Onigbanjo, sought a definitive ruling from the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court of Nigeria has since ruled that online court proceedings are constitutional, upholding all verdicts passed through such virtual processes. The court also indicated that the House of Assembly is working to amend the relevant section of the constitution.

Technological innovation has emerged as another tool in Nigeria's fight against the pandemic. Yakubu Olakunle, a Microsoft solutions expert, developed StaySafeNG, a mobile application designed to monitor the movement of confirmed COVID-19 patients and alert individuals they might have contacted. Despite its potential, the app faces significant adoption challenges. Without government enforcement for download and use, and considering that only 10% to 20% of Nigerians use smartphones, the app's reach may be limited. Other hurdles include concerns about mobile phone storage space, data privacy issues, and the security of user-compiled data, which could reduce its overall impact.

International cooperation is also playing a vital role, as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) donated crucial medical supplies to Nigeria. This initiative, part of ECOWAS's regional mission through the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), aims to bolster collective efforts against COVID-19. The delivered items included 12,800 goggles, 294,000 gloves (small, medium, large), 23,220 gowns (small, medium, large), 8,190 coveralls, 1,600 face shields, 12,000 masks, 10,000 surgical masks, 5,000 sanitizers, 40,512 diagnostic test kits, and two ventilators with trolleys. These supplies are expected to provide much-needed relief to Nigerian frontline workers who have faced shortages of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other medical equipment.

Adding to national capabilities, Nigerian scientists have successfully developed indigenous rapid testing kits known as RNA Swift. According to Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology, these kits accurately detect SARS-CoV-2 and are more cost-effective than conventional, commercially available alternatives. The RNA Swift kits are highly accurate and sensitive, competing favorably with existing diagnostic tools. The ambitious target for the coming months is to test 5 million farmers using these kits, with an initial manufacturing batch of 10 million kits. This development is set to significantly expand the nation's COVID-19 testing capacity.

As Nigeria continues its path towards economic and institutional recovery, new policies are being implemented. The federal government has announced plans to impose travel bans on countries experiencing high numbers of COVID-19 cases, with nations like the United States and some parts of Europe likely candidates for this restriction.