Access Bank Plc, Nigeria's biggest lender by assets, is teaming up with Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote to provide treatment and isolation centers across Africa's most populous nation as it braces for the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The facilities, which will be located across the country of more than 200 million people with a total of 1,000 beds, will be ready within weeks, Access Bank said Thursday in an emailed statement. They will have Chinese experts and serve as testing, isolation, treatment and training centers, the lender added.

Nigeria has so far recorded 51 cases of the COVID-19, including one fatality. There are fears the spread could become exponential if community infections aren't curtailed.

Source: Bloomberg Africa