Trump 'promises to send ventilators to Nigeria'

Nigerian officials say US President Donald Trump has promised to send the West African nations ventilators to help it tackle the coronavirus pandemic, the BBC's Chi Chi Izundu reports.

In a phone call with President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Trump also re-assured Nigeria of the US' solidarity and support during the outbreak, Nigerian government officials announced in their daily press briefing.

The US has the highest death toll in the world - more than 56,000 people there have died after contracting coronavirus.

Covid-19 is a respiratory infection and treatment often requires breathing aids but ventilators, as they are know, are in short supply globally.

A presidential aide tweeted further details:

President Muhammadu Buhari had a phone conversation with the US President Donald Trump today, the two leaders discussed Nigeria’s efforts to defeat the COVID–19 Pandemic, and President Trump pledged US support and solidarity. #COVID19Nigeria

— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) April 28, 2020