The presidency of Nigeria has approved about $17m for the construction of 38 oxygen plants across the country.
The move by President Muhammadu Buhari comes as the country is battling with a shortage of oxygen for Covid-19 patients amidst a second wave of the pandemic.
The number of Covid-19 patients in need of oxygen support is unclear, but the authorities have said that the situation was critical.
In a statement, the government said it had earmarked an additional $671,000 for repairing existing oxygen generation facilities in five hospitals.
Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed told a meeting of the National Economic Council that the construction of the new plants was necessitated by an increase in the number of patients in need oxygen.
It is not clear when the new oxygen plants will be completed.
On the 21st of January 2021, 1964 new confirmed cases and 7 deaths were recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 116655 cases have been confirmed, 93646 cases have been discharged and 1485 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
