COVID-19 pandemic: Buhari okays 38 oxygen plants for Lagos, Abuja, others

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the setting-up of thirty-eight (38) oxygen plants in the country, with at least 1 plant in each State and
two each in Lagos and Abuja.
The Secretary to the Federal Government, (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha,
disclosed this while providing an update
to the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) on the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the 31st teleconference meeting of the NGF on Wednesday.
The communique signed by the Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi and made available to Journalists yesterday, quoted Boss Mustapha as saying that the President’s decision is aimed at bolstering the government’s efforts at fighting the pandemic.
It revealed that a supplementary budget has also been submitted by the federal government to enable the country access additional vaccines for its citizens”, it said.
According to the communique, “The SGF commended the State Governors for rising to the challenge of the time by providing exemplary leadership and resources to curb the impact of the pandemic in the country.
“He also called for continued action to maintain non-pharmaceutical interventions including the enforcement of COVID-19 guidelines in public places and government institutions, heightened surveillance, risk communication, social mobilisation, testing and reporting of data, vaccination, as well as sustained clinical care for patients.
“To bolster the government’s efforts, the SGF informed the Forum that Mr. President has approved the set-up of 38 oxygen plants in the country, with at least 1 plant in each State and
two each in Lagos and Abuja.
“A supplementary budget has also been submitted by the federal government to enable the country access additional vaccines for its citizens”, it said.
Continuing, the communique added, “The NGF Chairman briefed members on several activities of the Forum including the meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Wives Forum (NGWF) which took place on June 10, 2021 to commemorate the first anniversary of the declaration of a state of emergency against Gender-Based Violence acknowledging the commendable role of the NGWF and alluding to some of the appreciable milestones over the period.
“For instance, on June 2020 only fourteen (14) States had domesticated the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, while as of June 2021, twenty-seven (27) States (including FCT) had passed the law with several others at advanced stages in the process of passing this law.
“He urged his colleagues to support the efforts of the NGWF and continue to treat sexual and gender-based violence as a priority”, it said.
The communique further revealed that the Adviser to the President on Infrastructure (Secretary, Power Sector Reform Working Group), “delivered an update on activities of key electricity sector reforms, including the transfer of DISCO equity to States, transition strategies for electricity subsidies, and the management of State and local government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) outstanding electricity bills.
“Following the presentation, the Forum resolved to review the proposals submitted by Mr. Zakari and communicate their position to the Power Sector Reform Working Group on a later date”, it said.