Amid the global scare posed by the coronavirus pandemic, the federal government has confirmed it is in talks for a partnerships with Innoson Motors and two other automotive firms that had expressed desire to manufacture the much needed ventilator which is key in fighting the virus.
Niyi Adebayo, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, who confirmed this development to newsman on Monday in Abuja, said Innoson had specifically sent in a proposal seeking government’s support to manufacture the ventilator, while expressing federal government’s willingness to effect the partnership.
Adebayo also noted that the federal government in partnership with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) are ramping up local production of food and pharmaceuticals needed to curtail further spread of the Coronavirus pandemic which he said the manufacturers were efficiently closing the gap.
“As you know, the world over, the coronavirus pandemic had exposed the world to health and economic crisis and countries are shutting down their borders. We’ve thrown that challenge to our manufacturers and they are responding accordingly.
The minister also informed that a secretariat known as ‘Emergency Operation Centre’ has been opened at the federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to sort out concerns of any manufacturer who encounters challenges in the event of conveying his food or pharmaceutical products from one point in the country to another.
He further applauded the Inspector General of police and the Comptroller General of Customs who have partnered the ministry to ensure hitch-free movement of food and pharmaceuticals across the country by the manufacturers.
In his remarks, the President of MAN, Nasir Sani- Gwarzo, said the partnership with the federal government had been effective in closing gaps in key essential food and pharmaceutical products needed to curb the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.
“We can currently manufacture 27 million masks in a month to curb the spread of the pandemic. We are also working with the government to close the gap in hand-sanitiser manufacturing as we are engaging alcohol manufacturers in partnership with the government on that,” he said.
He stated further that two of their members have submitted fresh proposal for the manufacturing of ventilators which, he said, would be forwarded to the minister for further action.
