COVID-19: NNPC Launches contract-tracing app

There’s some good news in the country’s battle against coronavirus (COVID-19) following the launch of a contact-tracing app by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

According to the state-run oil firm, the software application can be deployed in all its locations across the country.

In a statement issued by its spokesman, Dr Kennie Obateru, in Abuja on Wednesday, NNPC claimed the idea was in line with the Transparency, Accountability and Performance Excellence (TAPE) agenda of the present leadership of the corporation.

He quoted the corporation’s Group General Manager, Information Technology Division (ITD), Danladi Inuwa, as saying that the novel app was part of the NNPC’s sectoral contribution to curb spread of the pandemic within its formations, ministries, departments and agencies of the government.

“The Contacts-Tracing Solution is ready to be deployed, all the technical testing has been done and the solution is ready to go live.

“Everywhere you go around NNPC locations will be covered by this novel application, which will reveal all information about persons visiting any official.

“Should there be any medical challenge, the NNPC Medical will be able to track from the information at the data base all the contacts and advise properly,” Inuwa said.

He said the application could also be used by members of staff of the corporation to document their private visitors at their homes.

The group general manager added that the application would enable the workforce to adjust adequately to the ‘new normal’ way of living to minimise spread of the disease.