The search for face masks in the drive to curb the spread of the ravaging COVID-19,has led Lagos and Benue State governments as well as Kano Businessman, Alhaji Isiaku Rabiu, to place orders from the Cross River State Garment Factory.
While Lagos State placed order for one million nose masks, Rabiu ordered for 1,000 pieces of the masks to assist the Kano state government contain the pandemic.
Cross River governor, Professor Ben Ayade who made the disclosure Monday at the Garment factory Calabar stated that production of masks has been ramped up at the factory following the orders.
“We have Julius Berger, a construction company that has made a massive order. Shoprite also has made a massive order. We have also received an order of one million masks from Lagos State government. Alhaji Isaiaku Rabiu made an order for a hundred thousand masks for Kano state,” the governor disclosed.
“As you can see, we are here at the garment factory to carry out an inspection on quality control of preparation of the masks and ensuring that by the time they finish the ironing process, it will go through a sterilization chamber which is an innovation”, Ayade said
He disclosed that plans were under way to design military style masks for the military and para military organizations.
According to him, the special masks will come with fitted special protection and air filtration systems.
“As you are all aware, Cross River State started the concept of cloth mask. So we want to use this opportunity to say we want to move into the new brand of a military mask which will have special protection and special air filtration as well as special breathing support systems to enable the military use it on a daily basis even in the face of a biological warfare, ” he said.
The governor maintained said he has taken time to wear the mask in different combination of clothes to create awareness and to show that no matter how you dress, there is a mask that can fit with your dressing.
The governor expressed optimism that with the support of the federal government, Cross River State should be in a position to start exporting masks to other African countries in the near future.
“I believe that with the support of the federal government, we should be in a position to start exporting masks to other African countries very soon. with our installed capacity at three shifts we can do close to a million masks a day and i am happy the federal government is adopting wearing of nose masks as a national policy”, Ayade added.
Segun Fatuase
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