The airlifting of medical supplies donated by Chinese billionaire Jack Ma from Lagos to Abuja has been completed by the Nigerian Air Force. The donated medical consignment, which includes face masks, detection tests, protective clothing, and face shields, arrived in Nigeria on March 24th. This shipment was brought in via an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
The Air Force Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, stated that the medical materials, consisting of various supplies and equipment, were airlifted in a single mission using the C-130 Hercules aircraft. These items were handed over to a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja.
The Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Abdulazeez Mashi Abdullahi, expressed gratitude to the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, for the deployment of the aircraft. He also praised the NAF officers and men who participated in the airlift mission for their professionalism and stated that the donated items would significantly support the government’s efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
The Air Force leadership has assured its readiness to provide any necessary support within its statutory responsibility of providing aid to civil authority as the nation continues to deal with the threat posed by COVID-19.
Despite the successful airlifting of the medical materials to Abuja, there have been inquiries from Nigerians as to why the items are being transferred to the capital when the majority of the recorded coronavirus cases in Nigeria are in Lagos state.