By Fadekemi Ajakaiye
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has unveiled a 80-bed Centre for the isolation and treatment centre for Coronavirus patients (COVID-19) at the Landmark Village in Eti Osa Local Government Area, Lagos.
This is coming three weeks after the announcement of ongoing discussions to use a part of the Landmark Village as an isolation site.
The facility, which is a standard isolation and treatment centre constructed and fitted to specification, was delivered through a tripartite public-private partnership (PPP), consisting Landmark Africa, the state government and the Young Presidents’ Association (YPO), representing various private individuals and corporate donors.
Head of Projects at Landmark Africa, Enyinna Okorafor said the centre is physically isolated from other facilities and operations within the Landmark Village.
Okorafor said, “We must make it clear that the isolation and treatment centre is a physically independent and completely isolated operation within Landmark. Regular visitors to Landmark will have absolutely no interaction with the centre or its activities. Our partners, tenants, visitors, neighbours and the community are able to carry out their normal activities both inside and outside our premises with ease once the lockdown directive has been reversed. Together with the YPO, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the state government, there are also stringent and World Health Organisation (WHO) approved decontamination measures in place both now and once the centre is de-commissioned.”
He lauded the swift construction process that led to the prompt delivery of the centre, adding that they are immensely proud to have delivered the facility within three weeks of commencement.
He added that with over two decades’ experience as a property services company, the company’s detailed construction processes helped it deliver the project seamlessly and to ensure that it was ready for use within the stipulated time.
Speaking during the unveiling ceremony, Sanwo-Olu lauded the parties on the level of preparedness, stating that though the state has taken over the facility, but it would be operated in collaboration with the private sector, “I am happy with the level of preparedness I have seen.”
According to the Chief Executive Officer, Landmark Africa, Paul Onwuanibe, the partnership was an opportunity to serve the Eti Osa community and Lagos State residents, given the support and patronage the organisation has enjoyed from them over the years.
“The world is pulling together private and public resources to fight the coronavirus pandemic and as a responsible corporate citizen, it was important for us to contribute our quota to ensure prompt treatment and help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Eti Osa LGA,” he stated.
