COVID-19: Trump confirms call with Buhari, says at least 200 ventilators headed to Nigeria

United States President, Donald Trump, said on Wednesday Nigeria desperately needed ventilators to boost its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also confirmed the US would send at least 200 ventilators to the country.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, had on Tuesday disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari spoke with his US counterpart on how to tackle the COVID-19 in Nigeria.

Trump, who spoke at a press briefing in Florida, confirmed that there were plans by the US to send ventilators to other countries amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, was also at the briefing.

According to Trump, Florida had been in need of ventilators and thousands were sent to them and now, they had a surplus not being used which could be sent to other countries.

He said: “Ron said one thing that was interesting. He talked about ventilators and that ventilators were going to be a disaster in Florida and not enough and we sent them thousands of ventilators. But in the meantime, you have thousands of ventilators that are not used and we will be able to send them probably to other countries.”

“You will build up your stockpile because these other countries, Italy, France, Spain; we are sending to Spain. I spoke today to Nigeria. They will do anything for ventilators. We are going to send at least 200 ventilators to Nigeria; probably more than that