N28.7bn spent on food items as palliatives for Nigerians ― CACOVID

The Coalition Alliance Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) has disclosed that 200 well-meaning Nigerians and corporate organizations, provided in-kind donations, as well as funds to the tune of N39, 646,100,039.00 billion in support of the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

Out of this amount, a total of N28,767,590,517 was spent procuring Food supply palliatives that were disbursed by various state governments, which schedule showing the various quantities and dates of delivery will be posted on CACOVID website for public scrutiny.

Co-Chair, CACOVID and Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, disclosed this at a press briefing in Lagos while giving an account of the activities of the group.

He spoke in company of President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Chairman, United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr Tony Elumelu, and Managing Director, CEO, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe.

According to the CBN Governor, a total of 44 police stations were destroyed by the hoodlums.

“CACOVID has committed to providing over N100billion to procure equipment and gadgets for the Nigerian Police Force over the next 2 years; as our contribution to fully modernize the Nigerian Police,” he stated.

In addition, CACOVID also disclosed a plan to empower four million youths with a N25 billion employment programme.

However, Emefiele while rendering account of the activities of the private sector-led initiative, said the group received a total of N39.64 billion as a donation from members of the private sector and spent N43.272 billion on various interventions, including N28.7 billion on food relief as palliatives to 1.7 million households translating to 8 million Nigerians.

He said that in line with their promise to be open and Transparent in the utilization of the funds donated by partners, CACOVID has decided to provide the general public with full details relating to the procurement of goods and services along with the disbursement schedule of procured items.

Answering question on the food items meant for Nigerians but stored in warehouses across Nigeria, Emefiele said the coalition’s intention for distributing these items through the State Government, just like in the case of the isolation centres was based on the thinking that the state governments have the closest contacts with the most vulnerable in the society for whom this support was meant.

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His word: “We see the state governments as our closest link to the people in the rural communities or those who are vulnerable in our society. That was why we passed the food palliatives to the state governments just like we did with the medical supplies and isolation centres.

“The coalition started with medical supplies in March 2020 and the food palliatives came on later. We did not go to the open market direct to buy the items. We went direct to some of our members to procure them so that the prices will not skyrocket out of control. We procured those food items around the end of July to August 2020 and we told them to collate them in Warehouses until we fully deliver them to each of the states. Some of them were waiting for the full donations to come before the #EndSARS protests broke out.

“Unfortunately, those foods that were meant for the vulnerable people in our rural communities could not reach them. Cases of those who looted the warehouses were those that live within the areas where the warehouses were located. They collected what was meant for everybody.”

As part of efforts to cushion the effects of the lockdown on vulnerable Nigerians affected by the restrictions in movement, CACOVID provided palliatives in the form of essential food items to 1.7million households, which is equivalent to supporting 8 million Nigerians.

“The sum of N4,194,262,899 was spent in Building Isolation Centers. In addition, medical equipment such as PCR test kits for suspected cases of COVID-19 were procured along with other required medical items at a cost of N9,017,561,723. This support by CACOVID enabled many states to deal with an unexpected surge in cases of COVID-19.

“CACOVID also worked to improve awareness in rural communities on the COVID-19 virus, and the measures community health workers and other members of society should take when someone in the community is suspected of having symptoms similar to that of COVID-19. Print, TV, radio and social media were leveraged as part of CACOVID communication plans,” the governor stated.

As a result of unemployment, CACOVID he added, has committed to creating a high impact youth development program that will provide technical and vocational education to over 4 million Nigerian youths over the next 5 years.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE