Dr Sani Gwarzo, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, says the use of non-medical intervention remained the best option for preventing COVID-19, amidst discovery of vaccines.
Gwarzo, a former Public Health Physician, said this while receiving 500 pieces of face mask donated to the ministry by African Business Ventures and Investment International Nigeria Limited (ABVIG), on Tuesday in Abuja.
He, however, expressed appreciation to the organisation for donating the item to the ministry.
“We are very grateful for the timely and appropriate gift; it is one of the most important gifts to fight COVID-19.
“Although vaccines have been found, non-medical intervention remains the best option for preventing COVID-19.
“What you are giving us is not only a gift in kind; it is an appropriate gift that will save lives. We want to assure you that we will make the best use of them,” he added.
Gwarzo also promised to help the organisation establish appropriate level of industry at macro, small or medium scale in the Niger Delta in order to promote production of local content and international trade.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of ABVIG, Mr Moses Owharo, said that the donation of the face mask was part of the organisation’s activities to promote economic growth through collaboration with the ministry.
He said that the items were part of the organisation’s national symposium on Niger Delta infrastructural development and promotion of non-oil sector programme, amidst COVID-19.
According to him, the programme, with the theme: “Tackling COVID-19 and Ensuring Equitable Implementation of African Continental Free Trade Agreement”, seeks to improve investment climate and provide access to energy by all.
“Records by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) indicate 101,331 confirmed cases of infections and 1,361 deaths through COVID-19 in Nigeria, as of today.
“So, preventive measures have to be taken seriously to obey the NCDC’s COVID-19 protocols, because the pandemic has badly affected economic activities, not just in Nigeria, but globally,” Owharo said.
Also speaking, Mr Timothy Sandusky, Director of USA Sandusky, called for partnership with the ministry in order to promote small scale start-ups in the Niger Delta zone.
According to him, one of the areas being considered is infrastructure.
“Before you can industrialise, you have to have large hectare of productive land and lots of lands that are deadlocked due to lack of economic bridge in communities with 5,000 people.
“Small scale bridges will open up thousands of hectares that need to be industrialised. That is why we intend to create jobs and we need partnership to achieve this,” Sandusky said.
