CACOVID Relief Fund Hits N15bn Mark, Still Counting
BY COBHAM NSA, ABUJA – Despite the growing number of coronavirus confirmed cases across the country, there is excitement in the air that Nigeria remains on the success lane in the fight to defeat the global pandemic.
The cheering news coming from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is that financial contributions to the Special account established under the aegis of Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) have hit an all time high of N15 billion and still counting.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, by the Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Isaac Okorafor, on behalf of the Coalition, 37 donors were listed as contributors, including individuals, Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), other financial institutions and corporate organisations.
The statement gave a breakdown of the contributions as follows: the CBN and Aliko Dangote – N2 billion each; while Abdul Samad Rabiu (Bua Sugar Refinery); Segun Agbaje (GTB); Tony Elumelu (UBA); Oba Otudeko (First Bank); Jim Ovia (Zenith Bank); Herbert Wigwe (Access Bank) and Femi Otedola of Amperion Power Distribution, all donated N1 billion each to the relief fund.
Other donors include Pacific Holding Ltd; Union Bank Plc; Sterling Bank Plc; Standard Chartered Bank; Stanbic IBTC; Citi Bank Nigeria Ltd; FCMB; Fidelity Bank; ECOBank; and African Steel Mills.
Other donors listed by the statement include: Multichoice Nigeria Limited; FSDH Merchant Bank; FBN Merchant Bank; Rand Merchant Bank; Coronation Merchant Bank; Sun Trust Bank; Providus Bank; Wema Bank; Unity Bank; Heritage Bank; Nova Merchant Bank; Polaris Bank; and Keystone Bank.
Also making the growing list of those that have so far contributed to the CACOVID Relief Fund domiciled at the nation’s apex bank CBN are Globus Bank; Titan Trust Bank; Takagro Chemicals Ltd; Ahmadu Mahmoud; and Handy Capital Ltd
Okorafor said the Coalition is full of appreciation to the good spirited individuals and corporate bodies that have hearkened to the clarion call championed by the CBN and the country’s private sector,
The statement however called on more well-meaning Nigerians and corporate bodies to key into the Coalition’s good gesture with a view to supporting the fight against the pandemic.
The Coalition’s spokesperson however expressed the hope that with all hands on deck, Nigeria is on the right path to overcoming the scourge that has so far left on its trail alarming deaths, debilitating health hazards and untold economic hardship on countries and their citizens world-wide.
