Nigeria in one week: Where are all the donations going? And other stories
The just concluded week wasn’t so rosy for Nigeria in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic that is throwing old and young, rich and poor into panic. There is no cure yet but the curve keeps rising due to the spike in the number of confirmed cases in Nigeria and other parts of the world – it’s been an outrageous spike in the United States which has become the nation with the highest confirmed cases.
Nigerians went to bed last Sunday March 22 with 30 confirmed cases, by the time they would be going to bed on Saturday March 28, there has been an over 300% increase to 97 by 10:40 pm. Also in the week the country recorded its first COVID-19 death and several high profile cases from the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari to Bauchi State governor Bala Mohammed, Atiku Abubakar’s son, Davido’s fiancée Chioma and most recently Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State. COVID-19 is a respecter of no one – high or low.
While government is at the frontline of the COVID-19 fight, several corporate organisations and individuals, during the week, also stepped up to support the government. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar took the lead by announcing a donation of N50 million to support government, others soon joined, billionaire businessman Femi Otedola announced a donation of N1 billion, Aliko Dangote donated N200m and also partnered Access Bank to create a Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) to raise funds to support the fight against the virus. Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) donated a 100-bed intensive care isolation center built at Onikan stadium, Vitafoam donated mattresses and pillows, among many others.
The commendable actions from organisations and individuals responding to COVID-19 is getting many Nigerians worried. They have started expressing concerns over where all the funds donated are going to. The concerns are based on government’s silence as it is yet to announce any endowment fund account neither has it confirmed reception of any of the funds. Could it be audio money or another case of money going down the drain? Many netizens are worried and have continued to ask. None of the government representatives or agencies and the donors have addressed this concern in the last three days. We continue to wait.
The good news from COVID-19:
COVID-19 snagged almost all headlines throughout the week, but in the midst of all the scary tales coming out of the pandemic, there was still room for some good news and it started with popular singer Douglas Agu aka Runtown.
Runtown put smile on the faces of many Nigerians on social media on Wednesday by dolling out N10 million to support those affected by the pandemic as many have been forced to sit at home to observe social distancing. Peruzzi, Yemi Alade, DJ Kaywis, Toyin Abraham and others soon followed. Innocent Idibia aka 2Baba joined the list.
Before asking its staff to start working remotely from home, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) also rolled out N50bn credit facility to support households and businesses affected by COVID-19 and gave a detailed explanation of how the loan can be accessed. Read it here.
Since we have all been confined to our homes, some notable names in the Nigerian literary society – Kadaria Ahmed, Molara Wood, Kola Tubosun, Ruona Meyer, Abubakar Ibrahim, Victor Ehikhamenor, among others are planning something unusual. They want to jointly write a book – “My Corona Love Story” – from self-isolation. All contributors will send their story through social media. The compilation of stories is presently on via Google Doc. Incredible!
As we are all focused on fighting coronavirus, the Ogun State government and First Bank are not neglecting students who have been forced to sit at home due to the shutdown of schools. They have respectively launched digital classes for students to make up for the lost classroom days as COVID-19 seems not to be showing any sign of taking its leave any time soon.
The House of Representatives also proposed a bill which seeks to bring some relief on Nigerians and business owners during and after the pandemic. The bill will grant companies rebate on Company Income tax up to 50% of Pay As You Earn (PAYE) deductions, based on a condition that they have to maintain their payrolls as at March 1, 2020, to June 2020. This is expected to encourage companies to maintain their payroll status for the immediate term and as well save Nigerians from losing jobs after the crisis. The bill is also proposing suspension of import duties on medical items. It sounds so good and commendable. But the Senate, which is needed to concur with the bill before the President assents to it, has adjourned for two weeks before the House concluded work on it. Will they reconvene virtually as Atiku has advised to swiftly pass the bill? No information from the Red Chamber yet.
