Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has appreciated Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), for supporting the state with some of the major medical equipment needed for the fight.
Wike lauded SPDC Wednesday, at the Government House, Port Harcourt, while receiving the medical equipments.
He announced that this was the first time he will be commending the company; expressing that no one is concerned about the welfare and sustenance of people of Rivers, rather all were much interested in oil exploration.
The Chief executive further charged the various oil companies to endeavour to get him posted whenever they are changing crew and also ensure that the relevant manifest is supplied; adding that his major aim is to ensure the safety of Rivers people.
“This is the first time that I am going to commend you. I thank you for supporting the State Government in the fight against coronavirus.
” We have to work hard to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. We are not fighting anyone. But it must be stated that this is not from the Federal Government.
” We thank you for supplying these medical equipments to the Rivers State Government to fight the spread of Corona virus.
“But I am not happy with the NNPC for transporting 22 staff from Gombe into the Port Harcourt International Airport, and moving them into Rivers State without clearance”, Wike noted.
Furthermore, he insisted that anyone found violating the lockdown order will be apprehended and prosecuted accordingly.
Earlier in his remarks, Managing Director of SPDC, represented by the Deputy Managing Director of SPDC, Mr Simon Roddy thanked Governor Wike for granting SPDC accelerated approvals for the movement of personnel on essential duties and equipment to support production.
He praised him for striving so hard to ensure that the people of Rivers are well protected from this virus, adding that the donations are aimed at enhancing the clinical capabilities at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and the COVID-19 Treatment Centre at Eleme.
“The Two PCR Machines are approved by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to deliver COVID-19 Molecular screening tests. It is a pace setting technology enhancing testing capacity and fast cycling times. The first two in Rivers State”, Simon stated.
In their various views, Rivers State Health Commissioner, Professor Chike Princewill, the Representative of the Group Managing Director of Nigeria
Mr. Adebola Aderibigbe National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and the SPDC Community Health Manager, Dr Akinwunmi Fajola, noted that the machines donated by SPDC was the exact machines recommended by the World Health Organisation for the confirmation of COVID-19 Tests; hinting that the machines have the capacity of rapid tests everyday and also disclosed that the NCDC has already staff to get the machines to work.
