Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has donated N50million to the federal government.
The donation will serve as relief fund to support the Federal
Government’s battle against the coronavirus pandemic in the country.
Atiku, in a press statement he personally signed on Wednesday, said his contribution will help “form part of the stimulus package.”
READ THE FULL STATEMENT HERE:
Corona Virus: Nigerians Deserve Palliative Measures
As the coronavirus pandemic ravages the world, I applaud the
various Nigerian state governments who have proactively taken measures,
such as issuing stay at home orders, and shutting down non-essential
markets and other places of mass gatherings, while also giving
guidelines for social distancing.
However, we must accept the fact that much of the Nigerian public
have a subsistence existence. A large percentage of our people do not
have the financial capacity to withstand long periods of self-isolation
and even lockdown.
It is, therefore, incumbent on the Federal and state governments to
provide palliatives to the Nigerian people to enable them to survive,
even as they abide by these necessary measures put in place for their
own safety.
At an approximate 30 million households or thereabouts, the
government should devise modalities to distribute N10,000 as a
supplement for foodstuff to each household, among other palliative
measures, with no one left behind.
It is thus time for the National Assembly to reconvene in an
emergency session, perhaps by teleconference (in line with the demands
of social distancing), to legislate a Stimulus Package Act that will
cater for all Nigerian citizens.
I also call on all Mobile Telephony Companies in Nigeria to
urgently develop mobile money platforms so that the government can reach
the unbanked with financial assistance. I also urge these
telecommunications firms to offer each of the 100 million mobile phone
lines in Nigeria free credit of at least ₦1500 per mobile line, so that
Nigerians who show symptoms, or those who just want information, can
call the nearest available health facility, or even an ambulance
service, as the case may be.
I commend all individuals and corporate organisations who have one
way or the other provided some form of relief for the Nigerian people.
This is what makes Nigeria great, when we help each other at such crisis
times as this, irrespective of any differences. I further call on more
corporations and individuals with capacity, to assist the public in
these trying times.
To this end, Priam Group pledges N50 million on my behalf as my
humble contribution to a relief Fund that will form part of the stimulus
package.
May God bless Nigeria.
Atiku Abubakar
Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007,
Abuja.
25th March 2020
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