COVID-19: Trump calls Buhari, promises to give Nigeria ventilators

The United States of America has offered to donate ventilators to assist Nigeria in her efforts to win the war against the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

A ventilator is a machine that takes over the body’s breathing process when disease has caused the lungs to fail.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at the 21st joint national briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

Daily Trust reports that this is the first time the Unites States is offering assistance to Nigeria to contain the virus and is coming after the Chinese Government’s donation of some medical equipment, apart from the 15 Chinese Medical experts who are currently in the country to help in the COVID-19 crisis.

The minister said the promise of ventilators and other assistances was made by President Donald Trump of the United States while speaking with President Muhammadu Buhari in a telephone conversation on Tuesday.

He said the phone conversation, which was said to be at the request of President Trump, centred on Nigeria’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to him, President Buhari updated President Trump on progress so far made by the country.

“President Muhammadu Buhari today had a phone conversation with President Donald Trump, at the request of the American President.

“The conversation centred on Nigeria’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. President Buhari used the opportunity to brief the American President on the steps that Nigeria is taking to contain the spread of the disease.

“For his part, President Trump assured that the United States stand in solidarity with Nigeria in this difficult time and promised to send ventilators to support the country in its fight against the pandemic.

“President Trump also extends his best regards to the people of Nigeria,” Mohammed said.

As at 27 April, Nigeria has 1337 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with most cases concentrated in Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Kano.

The country has recorded 40 deaths so far.

64 new cases of #COVID19 reported;

34-Lagos
15-FCT
11-Borno
2-Taraba
2-Gombe

As at 11:20pm 27th April- 1337 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria.

Discharged: 255
Deaths: 40 pic.twitter.com/52JZFejvG8

— NCDC (@NCDCgov) April 27, 2020

The numbers not withstanding, President Buhari has, in a national broadcast on Monday, eased the lockdown imposed on FCT, Lagos and Ogun effective April 4.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, said the relaxation of lockdown was to enable Nigerians gradually return to their daily lives but in a moderated manner.