Buhari Approves N6.45 Billion To Set Up Oxygen Plants For COVID-19 Patients

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved N6.45 billion for the setting up of gas plants in 38 locations nationwide to enhance the treatment of COVID-19 patients who need oxygen.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, disclosed this in a statement issued at the end of a National Economic Council (NEC) in Abuja on Thursday.

According to him, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, announced the release of the fund at the meeting.

Ahmed said the president approved the release of the funds for the production of oxygen, necessitated by the increased number of patients who need oxygen due to the surge in COVID infections in the country.

The statement titled “FG releases N6.45bn for new oxygen plants in 38 locations nationwide to facilitate COVID-19 treatment,” partly reads:

“While briefing the NEC on the release of the funds, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed said the President approved the release of the funds for the production of oxygen, necessitated by the increased number of patients who need oxygen due to the surge in COVID-19 infections in the country.”

Nigeria is currently experiencing the second wave of the pandemic. As of Thursday night, Nigeria has a total of 116,655 COVID-19 infections out of which 93,646 have recovered and 1,485 have died.