Trump calls Buhari, promises to send ventilators to Nigeria
- President Trump has called Buhari to express solidarity with Nigeria over the COVID-19 pandemic
- The US president promised to send across ventilators to Nigeria
- The conversation between both leaders was said to have occurred at the request of President Trump
President Donald Trump on Tuesday, April 28, called President Muhammadu Buhari to express solidarity with Nigeria over the COVID-19 pandemic.
The minister of information, Lai Mohammed, at a briefing in Abuja said the US president promised to send across ventilators to Nigeria.
A presidential aide, Tolu Ogulesi also disclosed that the conversation between both leaders focused on Nigeria’s COVID-19 response.
He said the telephone call occurred at the request of President Trump
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has suggested that the United States could seek damages from China over the COVID-19 outbreak.
The US president made the suggestion on Monday morning, April 27 at a press briefing, The UK Guardian reports. Trump said his administration was conducting serious investigations into Beijing’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak.
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According to the Economic Times, the US president noted that his administration believes that China could have stopped COVID-19 from spreading globally.
In another news report, the presidency has ordered that the large number of food trucks that are being delayed at various checkpoints around the country be allowed passage. Various curfews and lockdown in different states have affected delivery trucks passage compelling the presidential directive.
A statement by the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu on Tuesday, April 28, stated that the restrictions of movement as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic do not apply to vehicles transporting essential commodities, such as food.
Part of the statement read: “The country cannot afford a situation where agricultural products are being left to rot in trucks held at various checkpoints when millions of Nigerians across the country need food. COVID-19 or no COVID-19, Nigerians need to eat.
Recall that President Buhari has eased the lockdown measures imposed on Lagos, Abuja and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja beginning from Saturday, May 2.
The president made this known in a nationwide broadcast to Nigerians on Monday, 27 after the end of a one-month lockdown since Monday, March 30.
President Buhari stated that the decision is in line with the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, various federal government committees and the Nigeria Governors Forum.
In another report, the federal government has announced that a special COVID-19 hazard and inducement allowance will be paid to health workers in the country.
According to the minister of state for health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, 50% of consolidated basic salary will be paid as the hazard allowance to the health workers in teaching hospitals, federal medical centres and designated COVID-19 centres.
Channels TV reports that the hazard allowance will be paid for the first three months in the first instance.
Coronavirus: The US govt gave me over 400k to stay at home - Nigerian in US on Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng