The Nigerian Army is ready to produce and store pure Liquefied Oxygen for immediate supply to isolation centres and designated hospitals for the management of covid-19 cases.
The coordinator, Defence, Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this at a news conference on updates on preparedness of the armed forces to combat covid-19 and other engagements in Abuja.
Enenche said the Nigerian Air Force had started operating its Liquefied Oxygen (LOX) Plant at the 103 Strike Group (103 STG) in Yola at full capacity to meet the mandate.
According to him, the plant is on 24 hours operation to ensure uninterrupted production of pure Liquefied Oxygen in support of the effort of the government in managing the cases.
He said the military had provided an additional isolation and treatment centre, located at the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Navy Town, Ojo in Lagos, bringing the number to 18 centres.
“Equally, the training of 80 medical personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to manage covid-19 cases has since commenced.
“They are being trained in batches and would soon be deployed to the various units they would serve. In addition, the recalling of retired Armed Forces medical personnel is in progress,” he said.
Enenche noted that the viral videos trending online showing men in uniform brutalising civilians were fake.
He urged the public to disregard those videos, saying they were actions of mischief makers whose motive was to tarnish the good image, integrity and sterling achievements of the Nigerian military.
“I am to state here that the high command of the Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to thank the general public for their understanding and compliance with the presidential directives in respect of the lockdown.
“It should be understood that the directives are in the best interest of the Nigerian populace, in order to prevent the spread of the dreaded covid-19 pandemic.”
