Breaking -Nigeria Set To Unveil First Home-Made Ventilator

BY CAMI EZENWA

Nigeria is about to make global history today, as it is ready to unveil its own indigenously manufactured ventilators.

The devices, products of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) are Nigeria’s first strategic answer to the ravaging corona virus pandemic.

A notice by NASENI spokesman, Segun Ayeoyenikan, on Monday, disclosed that Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, would unveil the devices later today.

This reality would stem tensions in the country, as a ventilator is a vital equipment in the treatment of coronavirus patients

There has been anxiety over the growing incidence of the pandemic without what could be genuinely called a Nigerian counter measure.

NASENI has equally produced mobile sprayers, which are to be used to disinfect Nigerian cities and homes.

In the midst of the increasing incidence of the pandemic, the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Finance, recently begged for ventilators from an American billionaire, but immediately withrew the moment Nigerians began to lash the policy.

But the federal government move in reaching out was informed by the lack of an alternative, given that there were a few ventilators in the country, in a situation where several were needed.

A critical parastatal under the Federal Ministry Of Science And Technology, the  Mandate of NASENI is in the area of capital goods research, production and reverse engineering with respect to the folowing six broad areas:

Engineering materials (notably irons, steel, non-ferrous metal and alloys, plastics, glass, ceramics, polymer, electronics and nanotechnology);

Industrial and analytic chemical materials inluding industrial gases;

Scientific equipment and components for education, research and industry;

Engineering accessories (mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical and electronic);

Power equipment (generation, transmission, distribution, prime movers); and

Mechanical Engineering tools (power tools, hand tools, cutting tools and machine tools).