Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar whose son, Mohammed, has tested
positive to the novel Coronavirus, has announced a 50 million relief
fund for Nigerians as the world continues to battle the Coronavirus
pandemic.
In a statement released today, Atiku called on the Federal government
to fashion out a way to distribute N10, 000 to families as they obey
the stay-at-home directive.
According to the former Vice President, a large population of
Nigerians depend on a daily source of income and providing financial
assistance to these families will be of great relief.
Read his statement below
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 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.
In essence, 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.