Chinese doctors and medical supplies donated by China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Wednesday evening aboard Air Peace chartered aircraft.
Among the materials brought were 16 tons of test kits, ventilators, disinfectant machines, disposable medical masks, medicines, rubber gloves, protective gowns, goggles, face shields, infra-red thermometers and other critical care items.
The minister of health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, along with the top officials Chinese and Nigerian officials received both the personnel and the medical supplies which are estimated to cost $1.5 million.
NewsGazette learnt that some 17 Chinese medical personnel accompanied the consignment which was immediately taken to a warehouse maintained by the ministry of health in Abuja.
Meanwhile, the chairman of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema described the 15-hour non-stop flight from China as “historic.”
He commended the federal government for its commitment to protecting Nigerian citizens from the dreaded pandemic that is ravaging the world.
Onyema also thanked the government for choosing the airline o airlift the medical supplies from Turkey and China saying “it is a huge encouragement to local airline operators.”
“Another history was made yesterday, April 7, 2020 as Air Peace Boeing 777-200ER (P4 5-NBVE) landed in Beijing, China, 14:18pm, for the airlift of the federal government of Nigeria’s medical supplies for the fight against COVID-19.
“This is the first time a Nigerian airline would be doing a direct non-stop 14-hour flight to China.
“The aircraft operated another non-stop 15 hours fight to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. All six-man crew are Nigerians. Congratulations, Nigeria,” said Onyema.
