The Federal Government has announced that it is in discussion with Innoson Motors and two other automotive firms who had expressed the desire to manufacture the ventilators to aid the fight against the Coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic.
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The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, who disclosed this to journalists in Abuja, said Innoson had specifically sent in a proposal seeking government’s support to manufacture ventilator and expressed Federal Government’s willingness to effect the partnership.
Adebayo also noted that the Federal Government, in partnership with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, is ramping up local manufacturing of food and pharmaceuticals needed to curb coronavirus, saying the manufacturers are efficiently closing the gap of what is required.
Adebayo said:
As you know, world over the coronavirus pandemic has 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.
He 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 the other.
The minister applauded the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd), who have partnered the ministry in ensuring hitch-free movement of food and pharmaceuticals across the country by the manufacturers.
In his remark, however, Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, said the partnership with the Federal Government has been effective in closing gaps in key essential food and pharmaceutical products needed to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Sani-Gwarzo stated:
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 of hand sanitiser manufacturing as we are engaging alcohol manufacturers in partnership with the government on that.
He said further that two of their members have submitted a fresh proposal on the manufacturing of ventilators, which he said would be forwarded to the minister for further action.
This is a very God development. All our local industries with competence have got a chance to bring to life their ideas as regards this.
COVID-19 is also helping our local businesses to improve on their capacity utilisation.