Nigeria to use drones to deliver vaccines, combat bandits

Plans are in place by the US government to supply drones to Nigeria as part of its commitment to help overcome security challenges in the country.

CAPE TOWN, May 21 (ANA) – Two Nigerian states have signed an agreement with American medical product delivery company Zipline International Inc. to use drones to distribute Covid-19 vaccines to hard-to-reach and conflict-ridden rural areas in Africa’s most populous country.

According to CGTN Africa, the company, which is based in San Francisco, is completing the construction of hubs and distribution centres, as well as obtaining the approval of regulators to operate in the states of Cross River and Kaduna, with a target to make the first deliveries within three months.

In March, Ghana became the first country in the world to use drones to deliver vaccines to rural communities.

The start-up has been delivering medical supplies, including blood, personal protective equipment (PPE) and vaccines since 2016, using patented autonomous drones.

In related news, plans are in place by the US government to supply drones to Nigeria as part of its commitment to overcome security challenges in the country.

According to online news publication Punch, the American ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, stated this in Sokoto at a round-table discussion with selected newsmen in the state.

She added that the drones would help Nigeria to end the activities of bandits, kidnappers and Boko Haram.

Earlier this month, Nigerian authorities established an arms control centre to address the country’s security problems.

President Muhammadu Buhari has faced immense pressure from structures within the country to get a handle on the security crisis, which observers say is out of control.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher