PTF receives N48m PPEs from Nigerians in Diaspora

*53,036 donated items include re-useable coveralls with shoe covers, nose masks, face shields, hand glovers, gowns, N95 masks, among others

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

In assisting the Federal Government’s efforts at tackling the virus in the country, Nigerians in Diaspora Support Group has donated Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) worth N48 million to the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

Ambassador Zubairu Dada, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, alongside Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), presented the items on behalf of the group to the task force in Abuja, FCT, agency report stated.

Mr. Boss Mustapha, Chairman of PTF on COVID-19, represented by Mr. Olusegun Adeyemi, Permanent Secretary, General Services, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), while receiving the donates items applauded NiDCOM Chief Executive for facilitating the donation.

The PPEs included re-useable coveralls with shoe covers, nose masks, face shields, hand glovers, gowns, N95 masks, aprons and masks, stated the report.

Ambassador Dada said that the donation was made to support the Federal Government efforts by the Nigerians Diaspora COVID-19 Support Group.

The group, according to him, is made up of well-meaning Nigerians living abroad from “Africa, Europe, United States, Canada and Asia”.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs also acknowledged the contributions of the Nigerians in Diaspora, urging them never to forget home.

The aim of the group is to provide a platform for Nigerians in Diaspora, irrespective of their diaspora affiliation in order to develop appropriate strategic areas of diaspora interventions, during pandemic or human crises in Nigeria, stated he.

Dada said: “They, therefore, decided to come together to mobilise funds to procure PPE for frontline medical and paramedical staff at the Federal Teaching Hospitals across the 36 States and FCT.

“The most exciting aspect of the donations made by the support group is that all items are of world class high quality, durable, re-usable and are all made in Nigeria.

“The items donated are: 1,036 Re-usable Coveralls with Shoe Cover, 3,700 Face Masks, 3,700 Face Shields, 18,500 Hand Gloves,’’ he said.

He added that PPEs donated by the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas are Gowns 3,600, N95 Masks 3,500, Aprons 5,000, Masks 3,000, Face Shields 1,000 and Gloves 3,000, while the ones donated by Nigerians in Diaspora Organisations Americas (NIDOA) are 2,000 face masks and 1,500 hand sanitisers.

According to him, 5,000 hand sanitisers were donated by NIDO China, of which 4,000 have been delivered to the Lagos State Government to support frontline health workers in the fight against COVID-19.

He said that the 53,036 items donated were valued at N48 million.

Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa said that all 36 states including the FCT were captured in the distribution of the PPEs for frontline health workers and para-medical staff in teaching hospitals.

Dr. Sani Aliyu, PTF National Coordinator, also stated that the donation would enhance escalate areas of coverage, especially for the frontline workers, saying, that more Nigerians needed to be involved in the fight against the pandemic.