Nigerian govt apologises for begging South African billionaire for ventilators

<!– Zainab Ahmed: Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning –>

Zainab Ahmed: Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning

Nigeria’s government has apologised to Nigerians for begging South African billionaire businessman, Elon Musk for ventilators.

The government had come under severe criticism for the undignified manner it publicly begged for 100-500 ventilators.

Reacting, the Federal Ministry of Finance from whose twitter account the plea for ventilators was made said: “an unauthorised post was made on the verified Twitter handle of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.”

Special Adviser, Media and Communications, to the Minister of Finance Budget and National Planning, Yunusa Tanko Abdullahi, said that “the fact of the post is regrettable because of which it is brought down.”

According to him, they “have made sure our internal processes are strengthened that such doesn’t happen again. The error is highly regrettable.”

The ministry had twitted that “dear @elonmusk @Tesla federal government of Nigeria needs support with 100-500 ventilators to assist with #covid19 cases arising everyday in Nigeria.”

The ministry said it will issue a statement after the Minister comes out of the Villa, The Nation reports.