- Praises CACOVID for donating 350 security vehicles
- Coalition made me proud over Covid-19 response
The President, who spoke in Abuja on Wednesday while
receiving a parting donation of N12 billion security equipment for the Military
and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) from the leadership of CACOVID, said his
government had received so much support from the private sector in addressing
social ills in the country.
Items handed over to the President by the Coalition members
included 100 Tata 14 ton Troop carriers, 100 Tata 12 ton Troop carriers, 86
Toyota pick-up trucks, 64 Nissan Navara pick-up trucks with their spare parts,
13,000 helmets as well as 13,000 bullet proof vests.
It would be recalled that the World Health Organisation
(WHO) had also rated CACOVID as the third largest contributor in the world to
the fight against Covid-19 virus, the outbreak of which in 2020 brought the
world to its knees.
An excited President Buhari while thanking the CACOVID on
behalf of the Military and the Police said: “Today is indeed a very happy day
for all Nigerians, and I can happily say that I am the envy of many Presidents
in the world. I am exceedingly honoured to be the President and
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, at
this time.
“I am gratified to have the honour of leading a country
whose private sector willingly galvanises itself to raise funds to
enthusiastically support government in resolving social ills. I am proud to say
that there is nowhere in the entire world, except in Nigeria, where the private
sector has voluntarily come together to assist government efforts.
“Thank you for supporting our Administration’s efforts to
strengthen the Police and Military as we face the security challenges that all
modern nations face”, Buhari added, noting that such a patriotic gesture was
proof that nationalistic determination is still alive in Nigeria, in the face
of enormous challenges pervading the world and the country.
Speaking while handing over the items, Chairman of the Aliko
Dangote Foundation (ADF), Aliko Dangote, a foremost industrialist who initiated
the Coalition with the Group Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, Herbert
Wigwe, explained that the Coalition was winding down with the latest donation.
He listed other business leaders brought together under
CACOVID to include Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, Tony Elumelu, Jim Ovia, Segun
Agbaje, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Femi Otedola, Adesola Adedotun, Karl Toriola, Haresh
Aswani, Raj Gupta, and John Coumantaros, all of who contributed several
billions of Naira each and supported the CACOVID effort with advocacy. In all,
according to him, over 100 organisations and private individuals contributed to
CACOVID.
Dangote gave reason for the donation saying that as the
worst of the Covid crisis waned in Nigeria, the security situation
deteriorated, partly due to economic disruptions caused by the shutdown of the
global and national economy.
Therefore, to provide additional response support to the
Government, the ADF Chairman said CACOVID embarked on another fundraising
effort, which enabled it to purchase the items for the Police and the Military.
Recalling the birth of CACOVID, Dangote explained that the
Coalition as a timely response to the outbreak of the deadly covid-19 virus was
borne out of the previous experience with Ebola elsewhere in West Africa, which
made him to recognise the fact that the potential crisis looming was very
serious
“And so together with Herbert Wigwe, we set up CACOVID and
drafted our peers in the private sector to join our efforts. The CBN Governor
joined our efforts very early and chaired the group. We knew straight away that
we had a responsibility to act and support the efforts of Government as quickly
as possible to avert disaster”, Dangote noted.
Dangote continued; “In addition to the leadership team, we
set up a technical committee to guide our purchasing decisions, which was
critical, given the prevailing confusion around testing and treatment options,
and the lack of successful models anywhere in the world. Members of that
committee included leading Nigerian scientists and public health professionals,
the DG of NCDC, DG of the Presidential Task force on Covid-19, representatives
of WHO, BMGF and the UN.
“In addition, a core team of select staff members from our
organisations manned the initiative’s operations Centre 7 days a week for
several months planning, coordinating, and delivering on the various activities
of the coalition.”
While enumerating all the supports the Coalition has offered
the nation in the last two years, Dangote disclosed that the group mobilised
its members and raised N62 billion to provide 39 fully kitted isolation centers
in all 36 States and FCT; Testing Supplies for almost 1 million tests; Food for
10 million vulnerable individuals across the country; Oxygen and tanks to the
most affected states; Support for vaccines delivery and distribution across the
Nation; Support to re-open the economy (Travel Portal, IT, airport scanners/PPE
and other support) with communications and advocacy campaigns around prevention
and against disinformation.
According to Dangote, the donation marks the end of the
CACOVID initiative “as we wind down what has been deemed an example of
patriotism, solidarity and efficiency in terms of partnership between the
public and private sectors. This is a lesson in the power of collaboration for
a worthy cause.
“Thank you to my partners on this CACOVID journey. I would
like to especially thank the Presidential Covid-19 team led by SGF Mr. Boss
Mustapha for their excellent collaboration. My gratitude goes to Mr. President
for your unwavering support and that of your entire Government.”
Also speaking on the activities of CACOVID, Mr. Godwin
Emefiele, Central Bank Governor, who led the CACOVID Committee told the
President he was proud to be part of the Coalition that supported government in
its fight against insecurity.
“I am immensely gratified by what CACOVID has achieved in
its few years of existence. The nationalist and patriotic drive of my
colleagues therein is unmatched anywhere in the world and must be applauded.
The Coalition is a good example of what Nigeria must become: a nation of
patriotic solidarity of individuals and corporations, and effective collaboration
of the public and private sectors,” he said.
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