The Chairman of the Presidential Flood Relief and Rehabilitation Committee, Aliko Dangote, has announced a donation of N1.5billion to further curtail the spread of Coronavirus in the country.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the committee was set up in 2012 by the Federal Government to provide support for flood victims and disaster-related relief situation in the country.
Announcing the donation on Wednesday after an emergency meeting, Mr Dangote who is also the President of Dangote group, emphasised the need for all well-meaning Nigerians to dip their hands into their pockets and help towards fighting the deadly virus in the country.
He said: “The reality of the Pandemic has set in now in Nigeria and all hands must be on deck to save our country from its attendant crisis. So far, so good, we need to sustain the momentum and ensure that we curtail the spread.”
In attendance at the emergency meeting were: Aliko Dangote, Tony Elumelu, Tunde Lemo, Karami Rabiu, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa among others.
Among the members who supported the decision taken at the meeting but who could not be in attendance were the co-chairman of the Committee, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija, Prof. Sani A. Lugga, Hajiya Fatimma Wali-Abdurraham, Hajara Alkali, among others.
Dangote in a goodwill message on the occasion of his 63rd birthday, last week said: “If we all work together to combat this virus, then there is light at the end of the tunnel.
“All hands must be on deck to help fight the coronavirus pandemic, and every gesture of support from other stakeholders outside government and the business community in Nigeria and Africa, would go a long way to help tackle this global dimension issue, with its impact felt all over the world,” his message read in part.
He lauded the efforts of the organized private sector, which through the Coalition Against COVID-19, CACOVID, initiative had raised over N21 billion to support government efforts to tackle the pandemic in Nigeria.
Dangote also appreciated the efforts of the government at all levels and those on the frontline of the fight against COVID-19, which currently was ravaging the economic, health and social sectors of the country.
It would be recalled that the FG in 2012 set up the committee to raise significant funds to provide reliefs for the flood victims.
At the fund-raising dinner held at the Presidential Villa on November 8, 2012, eminent citizens pledged about N12 billion for the task.
The Federal Government and Dangote made the highest donation of N2.5bn at the event.
The flood committee had consistently intervened in states, across the country that had problems with flood since its inception till date.
Some of the top donors to the committee and the amount donated so far are: Aliko Dangote, (N2.5billion), Jim Ovia, (N1 billion), Tony Elumeleu (N500m), Florounsho Alakija, (N500m), Prince Arthur Eze, (N480million), Nigerian Governors’ Forum, (N150m), Flour Mills (N200m) among many others.
