Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday ordered the "cessation of all movements" for two weeks in the largest city Lagos and capital Abuja to stop the spread of coronavirus.

"All citizens in these areas are to stay in their homes" starting from 2200 GMT on Monday, Buhari announced in a televised address to the nation.

"Travel to or from other states should be postponed. All businesses and offices within these locations should be fully closed during this period."

Buhari said the restrictions -- which also cover Ogun state neighbouring Lagos -- do not apply to hospitals, food shops or petrol stations.

"Although these establishments are exempted, access will be restricted and monitored," he added.

Foreign nationals were flying out of Nigeria's Abuja airport Sunday
Foreign nationals were flying out of Nigeria's Abuja airport Sunday AFP / Kola SULAIMON

Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation with some 190 million people, has so far registered just 97 confirmed infections and one death from COVID-19, but testing has been limited.

Officials have warned that the country risks seeing an "exponential" rise in cases unless contacts of suspected carriers are tracked down faster.

Authorities in Lagos, a sprawling megacity of 20 million people, had already closed schools, shut non-food shops and restricted gatherings to limit movement.

Enforcing a total lockdown will be a mammoth challenge for the authorities in a country where tens of millions live in dire poverty and rely on their daily earnings to survive.

"We are fully aware that such measures will cause much hardship and inconvenience to many citizens. But this is a matter of life and death," Buhari said.

He said the authorities would "deploy relief materials" to assist people in towns around Lagos and Abuja whose livelihoods were hit.

Percentage of the population of selected African countries with access to soap and water to wash their hands.
Percentage of the population of selected African countries with access to soap and water to wash their hands. AFP / Valentine GRAVELEAU

Two-months worth of welfare payments "for the most vulnerable in our society" would be transferred immediately, the leader said.

The Lagos state governor on Friday announced a programme to supply two weeks of basic foodstuffs to an initial 200,000 households in the city.

The central government in Africa's largest oil producer is already facing severe economic strain after the global pandemic sparked a collapse in crude prices.

State revenues -- which are reliant on oil -- have plunged and officials have said they will have to cut the budget for this year.

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Coronavirus Nigeria