Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State who has expressed anger at some corporate bodies in the fight against the coronavirus is now full of smiles especially at Shell.
Shell donated two world class testing machines to the state government. The governor had been mentioning the NLNG as a very responsible company who he said worked closely with the state government on movement of workers in and out of the state. NLNG also donated items worth N1bn.
Now, Shell seems to join the honours list. The governor had warned severally that the state would not forget those who would not help out in the coronavirus fight. On April 7, 2020, SPDC made earlier donations of oxygen concentrators, suction machines, defibrillators, ventilators, wheeled stretchers, PPEs, ambulance and generator.
The Shell management said May 6th donations were aimed at enhancing the clinical capabilities at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and the COVID-19 Treatment Centre at Eleme.
Also, the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) same week made huge interventions in the fight in the state.
Receiving the medical equipment at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Gov Wike said this was the first time he would commend SPDC.
He said: “We thank you for supplying these medical equipment to the Rivers State Government to fight the spread of coronavirus. I thank you for supporting the State Government in the fight against coronavirus.
“But I am not happy with the NNPC for transporting 22 staff from Gombe into the Port Harcourt International Airport, and moving them into Rivers State without clearance.”
He regretted that everyone wants oil exploration, but nobody is concerned about the welfare and survival of Rivers people. The Governor urged the oil companies to always inform him when they are changing crew. He added that they should always supply the relevant manifest.
In his remarks, Managing Director of SPDC, represented by the Deputy Managing Director of SPDC, Simon Roddy, commended Gov Wike for his untiring efforts and vigilance to keep the people of Rivers State safe in the face of the threats posed by coronavirus.
He also thanked the Rivers State Governor for granting SPDC accelerated approvals for the movement of personnel on essential duties and equipment to support production.
He said: “The Two PCR Machines are approved by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to deliver COVID-19 Molecular screening tests. It is a pace setting technology enhancing testing capacity and fast cycling times; the first two in Rivers State.”
In his remarks, the Representative of the Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Adebola Aderibigbe said the donation is to support the Rivers State Government in the fight against coronavirus.
SPDC Community Health Manager, Akinwunmi Fajola said that the machines have the capacity of rapid tests everyday. He said that the SPDC used seven weeks to source the machines. He said that the NCDC has already staff to get the machines to a position of functionality.
The NLNG had on Tuesday handed over a 10-bed Holding Centre, which it donated to the Bonny Zonal Hospital as part of its support to its host community to fight the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
This handover is coming closely on the heels of the donation of two vehicles, medical and other materials to the Rivers State Government in Port Harcourt. The company had earlier revealed that it was committing to N1 billion in various interventions in the State.
The NDDC added to the boost in the week as it inaugurated a committee for the distribution of palliatives to cushion the effects of Coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemic on the people of the Niger Delta region.
Speaking during the inauguration of the committee at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, the NDDC Acting Managing Director, the professor, Kemebradikumo Pondei, said that setting up of the committee was another response of the commission to COVID-19 and the effects of the lockdown to assist the Niger Delta people.
