COVID-19: FG partners manufacturers, research institutes on ventilators production


The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba, Richard Adeniyi Adebayo, CON has disclosed plans by the ministry to partner with Research Institutes, Academic Institutions, Manufacturers and other stakeholders involved in the manufacturing of local Ventilators to fight the dreaded COVID-19 Pandemic ravaging the World.
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The Minister disclosed this while receiving the weekly briefing by the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) of the Committee on Sustainable Production/Delivery of Essential Commodities during COVID-19 of the ministry stressing that the collaboration will guarantee the availability of ventilators an essential and very critical tool in the fight against the pandemic.
Following President Buhari’s address on gradual easing of the lockdown of Lagos, Ogun States and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja by giving an additional seven days in order to assess the level of spread of the novel Corona Virus Pandemic, as he assured Nigerians that mechanism is being put in place to ensure that the economy does not suffer any shock as a result of the lockdown.
He, however, called on heads of security agencies to instruct their personnel at check points across the country to comply with the recent directive by Mr President to allow the free flow and movement of essential commodities despite the inter-state movement restrictions and curfew within the country.
It would be recalled that the Minister recently emphasized on the need to observe Market Protocol which is using face masks and having hand sanitizer as well as social distancing among other precautionary measures at all times on approved market days before being allowed access to the market for transactions.
“I need to stress that, while there is an undeniable need for markets to be open on some days for people to restock on household supplies, it is most important for the set protocol during the process to be complied with to the latter. The use of face masks and hand sanitisers on market days are non-negotiable to limit the spread of the virus until the scourge blows over” Adebayo said.