Nigerian health officials ask when 250 ventilators promised by President Trump in April will arrive

NIGERIAN health officials have expressed concern that America's President Donald Trump is yet to deliver on a promise his made in March this year to deliver 250 US ventilators to the country to assist in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

On April 28, President Trump said his administration would send 250 ventilators to Nigeria within two weeks as part of the ongoing battle to combat Covid-19. In a phone call to President Muhammadu Buhari, President Trump said the deliveries were part of a plan to assist Africa, which included sending 1,000 units to South Africa.

Up until now, the ventilators have not been delivered, however, prompting fears that President Trump may end up reneging on his promise. On May 21 while touring the Ford Motor Plant in Michigan President Trump said he was confident of making the deliveries but so far has been unable to.

Ventilators can cost as much as $5,000 or $30,000 per unit depending on the brand and it is not clear which type, President Trump intends to deliver to Nigeria. So far, it is not yet clear if they were promised as a gift of if the Nigerian government would be asked to pay for the ventilators.

One Nigerian health official said: "I recall, in the heat of the Covid-19 morass, President Trump told governors of the US states to try getting them themselves when they demanded support within their borders. So, I am puzzled, will Trump who was insouciant to governors of his country in their demand for medical supplies be doting on Nigeria, a country he once labelled a ’shithole’?

"Also, will the US president who is notorious for extracting a toll from any country America gets involved with dispatch the medical consignment to Nigeria at no cost? I do not think so."

On May 29, Lai Mohammed, Nigeria's information minister, said no specific date was given for the delivery of the medical items. Also, Mary Leonard, the US ambassador to Nigeria, said she does not know the arrival date or specifics about the ventilators.