Donation of 641 million credited to Kaduna COVID-19 account, says Official

The Kaduna State Government has revealed that cash donations of N641 million have been credited to its COVID-19 account.

This was disclosed in a statement released by Muyiwa Adekeye, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media & Communication on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the government expressed its gratitude to the individuals, firms and agencies that have donated to its COVID-19 fund.

Mr Adekeye said many of the donors have kindly responded to the government’s stated preference for donations in kind.

Some have also made their donations in cash and in-kind.

He said BUA, UBA, Bank of Industry, Nigerian Breweries and others have made cash donations.

Dangote Foundation, Flour Mills, Olam and Nestle have provided support in kind.

Leadway Assurance also kindly offered an insurance package for health workers which Kaduna State Government has augmented to increase the sums assured. The CA-COVID alliance is also donating unprecedented supplies of food.

He further said that the state government is delighted by the many pledges it has received for medical equipment to strengthen the resilience of its health sector to respond to this and future public health emergencies.

According to Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), the State currently has 92 active cases, 4 fatalities from the total number of 111 cases recorded and 15 patients have been discharged.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai said that Kaduna State welcomes the positive disposition of its partners.

“The Kaduna State Government has received with immense gratitude the support provided by our private sector partners and the development agencies. We are delighted by the pledges of medical equipment to support health sector resilience. As we invest in the construction of more treatment facilities and other initiatives in the health sector, we are confident of the support of our private sector and development partners.

“We thank CACOVID, the private sector alliance, for the unprecedented deliveries of food to our warehouses to support low-income, poor and vulnerable persons. Other firms have made direct donations of cash, food items, and other materials. We do not take this support for granted.”

Mr El-Rufai also acknowledged the donations by political appointees and all public servants in Kaduna State to the fund.

He disclosed that the Kaduna State National Assembly Caucus and the honourable members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly also made contributions to the Covid-19 to the fund.

He welcomed this as a concrete demonstration of concern for others, especially citizens deprived of any guaranteed income by the impact of the ongoing public health emergency.

The governor said he was particularly touched by the gesture of ordinary citizens who have donated sums like N10, N100 and N1000, amounts that demonstrate that the spirit of charity is strong even in those who do not have much.

“The full list of donors, which will be regularly updated, has been posted on the KDSG website.”