The battle to bring the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic under control, on Thursday got another major boost with the announcement of N1bn cash donation by Abdul Samad Rabiu, Nigerian industrialist and founder of BUA Group, through his BUA Foundation.
A statement by the group quoted Rabiu as noting the need for the private sector to support the government’s effort to curb the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, adding that the cash donation will be done through the Central Bank of Nigeria Led “Private Sector Coalition Committee against COVID-19”.
The cash donation, it added, is in addition to placing an order for equipment and medical supplies, including testing kits and medical protective gear to 9 states in Nigeria. The medical supplies, now being air-freighted, will e distributed to Lagos, Kano, Adamawa, Edo, Kwara, Rivers, Abia, Akwa-Ibom and Sokoto.
“This donation will not only provide additional needed funds to the government and NCDC’s efforts but will also serve to protect healthcare and medical workers on the frontlines of fighting the pandemic.
“In addition to donating the ordered medical supplies and equipment to the two most populated states in Northern and Southern Nigeria, we have also selected seven states across all geopolitical regions in Nigeria where significant members of the BUA workforce and their families are situated, to help preparedness and response to the challenges posed by the pandemic.
“Each of these 9 states will receive about 100,000 protective face masks, 1000 high-grade medical protection and isolation gear, 2000 protective goggles, 1000 gloves and 1000 testing kits amongst other things,” Rabiu added.