Around 21 million people in the Chinese city of Chengdu effectively went into lockdown as authorities raced to snuff out a new Covid-19 outbreak.

Chengdu, in the southwest, became the latest city to announce a shutdown, saying in an official notice that residents must “stay home in principle” from 6:00 pm today to combat a new wave of infections.

Each household will be allowed to send one person out to buy groceries and essential goods per day, provided they have tested negative in the previous 24 hours, the notice said.

Meanwhile in Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged political parties and their candidates to focus on issue-based campaigns.

INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu said this while noting that activities towards the 2023 general elections will enter the next critical stages later this month.

Speaking at a meeting organized in collaboration with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Professor YAKUBU also gave the dates for the publishing of the final lists of candidates contesting for various in 2023.