BUA Group, on Wednesday, said it has, through BUA Foundation, its philanthropic arm, disbursed N900m of the total amount pledged for various interventions in the fight against the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic now ravaging the country.
A breakdown showed that N300m was presented to the presidential Task Force on Covid-19 for the purpose of operations and logistics in line with the earlier pledge of BUA Group’s Founder/Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu.
This was followed by the release of N600m cash, also at the midweek, to Kwara, Kaduna, Ekiti, and Rivers, which got N100m each; while the sum of N200m was handed over to Lagos State, the epicenter of the pandemic.
According to a statement by the group, these contributions, which are also in addition to BUA’s earlier disbursement of N1bn to the Private Sector Coalition Against Coronavirus (CACOVID), and distinct from the N1bn health infrastructure intervention grant being provided to equip a permanent health facility in Lagos.
The amounts, it noted, are also separate from the N100m each to Sokoto, Ogun, and Edo States, as BUA continues to champion the fight against the virus, quoting Rabiu as stressing the importance of the Private Sector stepping in to support the government’s efforts.
Also speaking on the announced N3bn Health Infrastructure Intervention Grant for Kano and Lagos States, Abdul Samad said “BUA Foundation is already working closely with the Presidential Task Force, NCDC (National Centre for Disease Control) and other stakeholders on how best to deploy these funds to immediately equip the selected facilities in Kano especially and Lagos within the next few weeks.
“These grants will be disbursed and monitored in line with globally accepted best practice,” he added.
Speaking further, Rabiu stressed the commitment by BUA to continue monitoring the situation, besides being ready to do more to support areas that are in need.
“We need each other to come together in fighting this virus,” he said.