As the coronavirus pandemic ravages the world, former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has donated the sum of N50 million as his contribution to palliative measures to cushion the effect of the virus on Nigerians.
Atiku announced this in a press statement made available to newsmen on
Wednesday.
The former vice president who stated that Nigerians deserve palliative
measures expressed worries that most Nigerians have a subsistence living and may not have the financial muscle to stay home for long.
“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,” he said.
Atiku applauded 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.
He however pointed out that “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.
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“It is, therefore, incumbent on the Federal and state governments to provide palliatives to the Nigerian people to enable them survive, even as they abide by these necessary measures put in place for their own safety.
“At an approximate 30 million households or thereabouts, government should devise modalities to distribute N10,000 as supplement for food stuff to each household, among other palliative measures, with no one left behind.”
He also stated that this is the 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.
Atiku also called on all Mobile Telephony Companies in Nigeria to urgently develop mobile money platforms so that government can reach the unbanked with financial assistance.
He urged 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.
While commending all individuals and corporate organisations who have one way or the other provided some form of relief for the Nigerian people, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 elections called on more corporations and individuals with capacity, to assist the public in these trying times saying “It makes Nigeria great when we help each other at such crisis times as
this, irrespective of any differences.”
