Donations to COVID-19 dedicated accounts hit almost N700m

Donations into the COVID-19 Eradication Support Accounts by 111 individuals and organisations between April 1 and 30 had climbed to N697,538,108.

The figures, which were made available by the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, were the aggregate from the five dedicated accounts activated by the Federal Government in five  commercial banks.

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, sent an appreciation message to all those who had contributed to the accounts.

A statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, which conveyed the President’s message to the donors, also provided the records on the donations, as obtained from the Accountant-General of the Federation’s office.

“Records obtained from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation about lodgements from 111 individuals and organisations into the FGN COVID-19 Eradication Support Accounts in the five designated banks between April 1-30, 2020, indicated the total sum of Six Hundred and Ninety Seven million, Five Hundred and Thirty-Eight Thousand, One Hundred and Eight Naira only (N697, 538, 108.00).

“The above consists of small payments of N5, N10, N14, N20 by individuals to huge deposits of N200 million by Dantata Property Development; N100 million by Ocean Trust Ltd; N25 million by NSITF; N20 million by Ebele and Anyichuks Foundation; N15 million by Nizamiya Hospital Abuja; and N10 million each by Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship and Association of Bureau De Change (BDC) respectively, among others.

“As the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 continues to roll out measures on how to contain the spread of the pandemic in the country and manage its health and economic implications, President Muhammadu Buhari has commended public-spirited Nigerians and organisations for their financial and material support.

“Citing the provision of isolation, treatment and laboratory centres/facilities by individuals and companies such as Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, Guaranty Trust Bank and Thisday Newspapers and Partners among others in several states and Federal Capital Territory, the President called on other privileged Nigerians and bodies to emulate these laudable gestures”, the statement said.

Buhari, in his message to the donors, had said “we are facing a national challenge and all hands must be on deck to navigate this difficult course. In this respect, all types of assistance are welcome, big or small. The spirit behind the contributions is salutary.”