President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, said the support his government had received from the private sector in addressing social ills was enough to make him the “envy of many presidents of the world.”
The President stated this in Abuja at the commissioning and handover of security equipment valued at over 12 billion to the military and Nigeria Police Force.
The items were donated by the Coalition of Private Sector Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) – a group of eminent Nigerian industrialists, including Aliko Dangote and Herbert Wigwe, who had also pooled N40 billion to combat COVID-19 in the country.
“Ladies and gentlemen. Today is indeed a very happy day for all Nigerians, and I can happily say that I am the envy of many Presidents in the world.
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“I am exceedingly honoured to be the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, at this time.
“I am gratified to have the honour of leading a country whose private sector willingly galvanises itself to raise funds to enthusiastically support government in resolving social ills.
“I am proud to say that there is nowhere in the entire world, except in Nigeria, where the private sector has voluntarily come together to assist government efforts.”
President Buhari, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, thanked all members of CACOVID, the leadership team and technical committee, for their support and patriotism.
“These 350 vehicles and thousands of vests and helmets you are handing over today will go a long way in boosting the capacity of our forces,” he said.
The President said such a patriotic gesture was proof that nationalistic determination is still alive in Nigeria, in the face of enormous challenges pervading the world and the country.
Buhari, while recounting the history of CACOVID, said the initiative was set up following a quick-thinking recognition of the impending crisis that could erupt due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
According to the President, in its drive to play its part in ensuring a golden Nigeria, CACOVID, which also received the support of the Central Bank of Nigeria, expanded its scope beyond combating Covid-19.
He added that following the national unrest in 2020 and the continuing security challenges in the country, the coalition again galvanised support among private sector organisations to support the Federal Government in surmounting the security challenges.
“In this regard, the coalition commendably raised the sum of N12 billion, which was used to procure critical security equipment for our domestic law enforcement and defence organisations,” he said.
The following state-of the-art security vehicles and equipment were procured for use by law enforcement agencies in Abuja and Lagos:
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