The Capital Market Support Committee on COVID-19 (CMSC), on Thursday, commended efforts by the Federal Capital Territory Administration in combating the Coronavirus pandemic in the country.
Speaking in Abuja, while handing an ambulance and other essentials to the FCTA, Acting Director General of the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms. Mary Uduk, lamented that since the country recorded its COVID-19 index case in February, the number of affected persons has been on the rise, leading to emergency situations and in some cases, death.
Accompanied by members of the Committee, Uduk said the capital market recognizes the need to lend its support towards strengthening the available response mechanisms as well as ameliorating the burdens on those affected.
Recall that the Nigerian capital market community, led by the SEC, in April, set up the CMSC to mobilize the necessary resources and coordinate all efforts required in that regard.
“The Committee has been mobilizing financial support and other resources from capital market participants and stakeholders for the purpose of providing medical and protective supplies as well as other palliatives.
“The CMSCC hereby announces the execution of the first phase of its intervention. This phase would cover donation of ambulances and other medical items to Lagos State, Kano State and the Federal Capital Territory, being centres with relatively high number of cases. The CMSCC would also be donating an ambulance to the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, to support the efforts in flattening the curve in Nigeria.
“We encourage all capital market stakeholders to key into this initiative and contribute to the CMSCC Covid-19 fund to enable the capital market community deliver on planned future interventions. We also encourage fellow Nigerians to continue to take necessary safety precautions and abide by directives issued by the Federal Government and relevant health agencies. Together, we will overcome this pandemic. We believe these donations will aid in fighting the pandemic and flattening the curve in Nigeria”.
Uduk said the Committee has studied relevant data on the pandemic and has identified critical areas of intervention, in the first phase of the execution of this initiative, the centers with relatively high number of cases, including the Federal Capital Territory have been prioritized.
She applauded the committee and contributors to the fund, even as she expressed appreciation to the FCTA Minister and his officials for the privilege of collaborating with the SEC in a bid to ensure Nigeria becomes COVID-19 free.
Welcoming the visitors, Minister of State FCTA, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu commended the SEC for the donation saying that it will assist greatly in ensuring quick response and efficiency in the fight against the pandemic.
She urged Nigerians to continue obeying laid down protocols as COVID-19 is real, despite the ease, because “this is not the time to let down our guards, we must continue to maintain social distancing, use our face masks when in public places as well as other protocols.
The CMSCC, which was set up on Thursday, April 16, 2020, to coordinate the capital market community’s contribution to fighting Covid-19, has Ariyo Olushekun as Chairman.
L-R, Acting Director-General of the SEC, Ms. Mary Uduk (middle) handing over documents of an Ambulance and other essentials to the Minister of State for FCT, Hajia Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, on behalf of the Capital Market Support Committee on COVID-19 in Abuja. With them is SEC’s Acting Executive Commissioner, Operations, Isyaku Tilde (left).