The Federal Government has said that it will partner with the French Government to establish Virology centres in the Niger Delta region, as part of measures to check the spread of infectious diseases.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs (MNDA), Godswill Akpabio, made this known when the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Jerome Pasquier, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.
According to Akpabio, “the importance and usefulness of the Virology Centre cannot be emphasized considering the prevalent situation presently experienced in the country and globally”.
The minister said the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs was established to quell the agitation of the people of the Niger Delta region and to bring development to the region.
Akpabio, in a statement on Sunday by the director of press and public relations, Deworishe Patricia, commended the efforts and commitment of the Federal Government in rolling out measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, even as he extended his sympathy to the French Ambassador and his country over their loss.
He further stated that presently, the Ministry seeks to engage the services of consultants, who would merge the Regional and National Plan to produce a concised Master Plan, that will address, amongst others, the infrastructural deficit, youth restiveness and socio-economic challenges in the region.
Akpabio also stressed the need to engage Soil Remediation experts to help in restoring the soil to its natural pollution free state, which will enhance soil usefulness and prevent endemic poverty in the region, adding that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has demonstrated its readiness to expend N90 billion for the 9 States of the Niger Delta region in its integrated Agricultural Programme to train youths in Fishery, Rabbitry, Piggery, etc.
This was as he assured the Ambassador that the Ministry would be prudent and transparent in any financial assistance offered by French Government.
The French Ambassador, who commended the efforts of the Government in putting in place effective measures to control the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, encouraged the Federal Government to develop vaccines that will take care of infectious diseases and other ailments such as Corona-virus and malaria respectively.
He indicated the readiness of his country to co-operate with Nigeria in the production of vaccine suggesting that Nigeria should also collaborate with other African countries to make the COVID 19 vaccine production a reality.
