Akwa Ibom State Government has rejected ten vehicles donated by giant oil company, ExxonMobil to help contact tracing of persons who are assumed to have COVID-19 in the state.
The government showed its appreciation to the company for the gesture on Friday but had a change of heart in a statement issued on Friday, by its Information Commissioner, Charles Udoh, which described the vehicles as rather old and not able to withstand the rigours of contact tracing which the vehicles would be subjected to.
According to Udoh, the government’s decision was based on an evaluation of the vehicles and some other donations the company made.
“The vehicles are considered too old and not in good enough operational conditions to withstand the rigour of contact tracing which they were meant to serve,” the statement read in part said.
The Commissioner, however, noted that the government had accepted two ambulances and 20 hospital beds donated by the crude oil company.
He also appreciated the contributions of corporate bodies and private individuals who had donated so far in the fight against the novel coronavirus in the state.