Nigerian Military Provides 17 Isolation Centres for Coronavirus Pandemic

Nigerian Military Provides 17 Isolation Centres for Coronavirus Pandemic

You may recall that on 27 March 2020, I briefed you on the highlights of the level of preparedness of the Nigerian Military in support of the Federal Government of Nigeria towards tackling the COVID 19 pandemic. In this regard, I am to give you more details on the preparedness of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, which are as follows:

a. A Committee headed by the Chief of Defence Training and Operations is in place interfacing with all relevant Ministries, departments and Agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria managing the COVID 19 Pandemic.

b. As mentioned in my first briefing regarding COVID 19, there are 17 isolation and treatment centres earmarked which are spread across the 6 geopolitical zones of the Country as follows:

(1) South West

(a) 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Yaba.
(b) 2 Division Hospital, Ibadan.

(2) South South

(a) Military Hospital, Port Harcourt.
(b) Navy Reference Hospital, Calabar
(c) Military Hospital, Benin.

(3) South East
(a) 211 Regiment Group Medical Centre, Owerri.
(b) 82 Division Military Hospital, Enugu.

(4) North Central
(a) 161 Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Makurdi.
(b) 22 Brigade Medical Centre, Ilorin.

(5) North West
(a) 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna.
(b) 465 Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Kano.
(c) 263 Nigerian Air Force Reference Hospital, Daura.
(d) 119 Composite Group Medical Centre, Sokoto.

(6) North East
(a) 261 Nigerian Air Force Reference Hospital, Bauchi.
(b) 163 Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Yola.
(c) 7 Division Military Hospital, Maiduguri.
(d) 27 Task Force Brigade Field Ambulance, Damaturu.

2. Further to this, a good number of Armed Forces of Nigerian medical personnel have been earmarked to be trained on the management of COVID 19 cases, which will done in liaison with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

3. In the same vein, about 48 Disaster Response Units of the Armed Forces of Nigeria are on Notice To Move in conjunction with NEMA. These units will handle operations other than medicals that may arise in the course of this non kinetic military operation.

4. Finally, the Armed Forces of Nigeria is to implement all restriction on movement in line with the Federal Government of Nigeria. For the avoidance of doubt this include the Presidential Directive given by the President Commander In Chief, during his address to the Nation on the COVID 19 Pandemic, on 29 March 2020.

5. The High Command of Nigerian Military hereby solicit for the support of the general public in this trying period of the fight against COVID 19. This can be achieved by adhering to all the medical and administrative guidelines being provided by government at all levels.

6. Thank you and God bless.

John ENENCHE
Major General
Coordinator Defence Media Operations