Contributors to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)-led Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 has raised N15.32 billion in the first week of the exercise.
The fund was meant to be deployed into fighting the COVID-19 pandemic spreading in Nigeria.
The list of contributors released Wednesday indicated that the CBN contributed N2 billion; Dangote Industries Limited, N2 billion; BUA Sugar Refinery, N1 billion; Guaranty Trust Bank, N1 billion; United Bank for Africa, N1 billion; First Bank of Nigeria Limited, N1 billion; Zenith Bank plc, N1 billion; Access Bank Plc, N1 billion and Amperion Power Distribution Limited, N1 billion and Pacific Holding Limited, N500 million.
Union Bank Plc contributed, N250 million, Sterling Bank plc, Standard Chartered Bank Limited, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Citibank Nigeria Limited, First City Monument Bank, Fidelity Bank and Ecobank Plc donated N250 million each, among others.
The COVID-19 Relief Fund naira account was opened last week in the CBN with account number -1000014920 while the CBN TSA USD account number – 0017575300 was opened at the Citibank UK, the correspondent bank.
CBN Director, Corporate Communications, Isaac Okorafor, said the release of the list followed earlier pledge to provide weekly update on the contributions to the Relief Fund.
In earlier statement, the CBN spokesman said the Nigerian Private Sector Coalition will equip medical facilities in six geopolitical zones in the country with the fund.
“The world is currently battling a global health crisis as COVID-19 spreads rapidly through many countries. Currently, cases of the virus have been reported among individuals across Nigeria and there is a high risk of the virus spreading through much of the population, if we do not come together to fight this battle. Necessitating, the introduction of the Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID),” he stated.
It disclosed that work had begun in earnest to provide and equip medical facilities in the six geopolitical zones. This will, it added, involve the creation of testing, isolation and treatment centers, and include the provision of Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and molecular testing labs.
“We have started with Lagos (1,000 beds), Kano (500 beds), Rivers (210 beds) Abuja (200 beds), Enugu (200 beds) and Borno (200 beds) and expect to be operational within 10 days. The next phase will see locations set up in Katsina, Ogun, Bayelsa, Anambra, Bauchi and Plateau to be ready within three weeks. The remaining states of the Federation will be set up in the last phase within the next five weeks,” the group said.
Also, based on the population of Lagos, and the fact that it is the epicenter of this crisis, the group will also be creating a permanent structure within the next four to six months.
