Nasarawa Without A Single Ventilator Buys legislators Cars at N500m

BY CAMI EZENWA

Except the assertion is false, otherwise, the Nasarawa State government would have a difficult task explaining why it spent a whopping N500m buying cars for legislators when the state has no single ventilator.

A ventilator is about the most basic tool in the task of checkmating further spread of COVID-19, and as such first on the shopping list of the average state serious at containing it.

The question on the lips of observers now, is why the state governor, Abdullahi Sule reportedly bought 24 Toyota Hilux vehicles for state lawmakers, estimated at nearly N500 million, without prioritizing with the purchase of ventilators..

Though Nasarawa State has no confirmed case of the disease for now, but its proximity with Abuja with proven cases, is considered a clear indication to make contingency plans.

However, a report in Daily Trust credits the Speaker of Nasarawa House of Assembly, Ibrahim Abdullahi, as stating on Monday that Abdullahi gave the 24 Toyota Hilux to the lawmakers as official vehicles.

With an average cost of N21m per car, the state would have spent over N500milion procuring the entire 23.

Although there were clear indications when the vehicles were ordered, but the thinking is that sensitivity in the prevailing condition in the country would have made the authorities to soft-pedal.

This is especially as there has also not been confirmed palliatives from the government aimed at ameliorating the challenges faced by the citizens in the face of lockdown.

IT is also against the background of protests on Thursday, by some Medical and Health Workers in the state over non-payment of their March salary.

Thee worked at Doma local government, and threatened to embark on industrial action from Friday, if they are not paid.

By the analysis, a hospital-grade ventilator would cost between $25,000 (N9.175m) and $50,000 (N18.350 m), using the Central Bank’s official exchange rate of N367 for a dollar.

Most of the ventilators already present in the country are in tertiary hospitals—federal medical centres and teaching hospital, an expert was quoted as saying in the report, underscoring the point that ventilators were very important equipment, not only being used for supportive care of COVID-19 patients, but other respiratory illnesses.

Aside Abuja, states with common boundaries with the state include Kaduna, Kogi, Benue and Taraba.

The report shows that Abuja, Kaduna and Benue have 58, six and one confirmed cases respectively.

It is reasoned that Nasarawa should rise fast to the challenge to ensure a reduction of the state’s vulnerability to the pandemic.

This would have come not only in terms of procurement of right equipment but also in terms of provision of palliatives and sustained and comprehensive sentisations.

Meanwhile the related account, Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) are threatening to embark on strike over non-payment of their March salary by Doma local council.

Mr Adamu Musa, the Secretary of Ekye branch of the union in Doma Local Government, made this know on Thursday in Lafia when they appeared to defend their petition before the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, (NSHA).

Committee on Public Complaints, Petitions and Security chaired by Hon Danladi Jatau. Musa was quoted as saying, ” We petitioned the Chairman of Doma Local Government, Alhaji Rabo Sani over non-payment of our March salary to health workers and we are set to commence strike by Friday 17th,2020 if nothing is done”.

Also, some stakeholders of Nasarawa State have faulted the purchase of the cars for the state lawmakers, stressing that the money should have been channelled to equip its hospitals with modern equipment like ventilators.

Perhaps, the government may have to come forth with its reasons for the purchases.

-Picture credit: Daily Trust