The Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government will Thursday hold an extraordinary session through videoconference on the impact of the coronavirus in the West African sub-region.

15 member states of ECOWAS have recorded 5,474 COVID-19 cases and 140 deaths.

According to the West African Health Organisation, 1,567 have recovered and 3,767 are active cases.

In a statement in Abuja on Wednesday from the ECOWAS Commission, the heads of state will discuss the situation and impact of the coronavirus pandemic in the sub-region.

It said, “Preceding this extraordinary summit, the ministers in charge of finance and the governors of central banks from the region held a virtual extraordinary session on April 21, 2020, on the COVID-19 situation.

“To address the COVID-19 situation in the region, ECOWAS had immediately made available financial support in addition to assistance from international partners, for the purchase of medical supplies and equipment essential for the fight against the pandemic.”

Meanwhile, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees has donated hygiene products to the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons for distribution to IDPs and refugees in the country.

The items were presented by the UNHCR Nigerian Country representative, Chansa Kapaya to the Federal Commissioner, Senator Bashir Mohammed in Abuja on Wednesday.

They include 81,452 bars of soap, 13, 408 face masks, 14,895 bottles of hand sanitiser and 9,832 buckets.

Mohammed lauded the UNHCR for the donation which he said would be distributed to IDPs and refugees to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.