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.

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

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.