COVID-19: NNPC, partners donate 6 ambulances, medical kits to S’West states

As part of its efforts to support Nigeria’s fight against the Coronavirus pandemic, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its partners have donated about six ambulances and medical consumables to the South West states.

According to a statement by Dr. Kennie Obateru, the NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, the donation was presented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, on behalf of the NNPC and the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG) comprising of 26 indigenous oil companies.

He said that the donation is part of the N21 billion intervention initiative on the COVID-19 pandemic by the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry.

The items donated to Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti, Osun, Oyo and Ondo states were received by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora, who is a member of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Timipre Sylva said apart from the six ambulances, the states would also get thousands of testing kits, Personal Protective Equipment, including face masks, body suits, hand gloves and sanitisers.

He said similar donations had earlier been made by the Oil and Gas Sector in Abuja, Rivers and Bayelsa states, adding that collaboration was needed to defeat the novel Coronavirus.

The minister added that similar items will also be delivered to Kano and Katsina states, stressing that in line with the Oil and Gas Intervention Initiative’s plan of establishing permanent and sustainable medical infrastructure in each of the geopolitical zones in the coming days, the industry would be conducting a groundbreaking activity for the building of emergency and infectious diseases hospitals in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

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According to the Minister, the gesture would be extended to all states of the federation in line with the mandate of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 within the coming weeks.

On his part, Dr. Mamora commended the initiative of the Oil and Gas Sector in the fight against COVID-19.

“I thank you very much on behalf of the PTF and I know that posterity will be kind to you for standing up to be counted during this critical period.

“These donations will help fortify our healthcare system. Nigeria and Nigerians will not forget you for your noble effort”, he said.

Speaking on behalf of the South West governors, Sanwo-Olu said the donation would be used to support the critical infrastructure that was a challenge to the healthcare industry.