To strengthen national response to COVID-19 in Nigeria, industrialist and founder of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, has announced a donation of N1 billion in cash through the BUA Foundation, and has also placed an order for an additional donation of equipment and medical supplies including testing kits and medical protective gear to nine states in Nigeria.

These medical supplies are being air-freighted and will arrive in Nigeria as soon as possible.

States to benefit include Lagos, Kano, Adamawa, Edo, Kwara, Rivers, Abia, Akwa Ibom and Sokoto.

Speaking on the donation, Abdul Samad Rabiu, chairman of BUA Group, said that it was very important for the private sector to support the government’s effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, adding that the N1 billion donation will be done through the Central Bank of Nigeria led “Private Sector Coalition Committee against COVID-19.”

He added that “This donation will not only provide additional needed funds to the government and NCDC’s efforts but will also serve to protect healthcare and medical workers on the frontlines of fighting the pandemic.

“In addition to donating the ordered medical supplies and equipment to the two most populated states in Northern and Southern Nigeria, we have also selected seven states across all geopolitical regions in Nigeria where significant members of the BUA workforce and their families are situated to help preparedness and response to the challenges posed by the pandemic.

“Each of these nine states will receive about 100,000 protective facemasks, 1,000 high-grade medical protection and isolation gear, 2,000 protective goggles, 1,000 gloves  and 1,000 testing kits amongst other things.”