COVID-19: FG breaks silence on sharing N15 billion donations to Nigerians for lockdown

The Federal Government cannot share the N15 billion donations to Nigerians for (COVID19) lockdown, Nigeria’s Minister of Information, according to Lai Mohammed.

Onyxnews Nigeria reports that the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration have received over N15 billion from private individuals and organizations in Nigeria for ”COVID-19 Relief.

Ever since the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced the N15 billion donations, Nigerians have called on the Federal Government to share the N15 billion palliatives during the lockdown over the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reacting to the call, the Minister of Information who was featured on a Radio Nigeria programme on Tuesday, 14 April, said President Buhari’s administration does not have the power to distribute the N15 billion donations.

Mohammed analysed that the private persons and organizations came together to donate the funds and asked the Federal government how they can assist to tackle the pandemic virus.

The Minister of Information said the Federal government has advised the private individuals to make use of their donations to help develop the healthcare facilities in the country.

“The private sector donors are not giving any cash to the federal government and they have made this clear to the people. They said they will support the fight against the pandemic by asking government where they want healthcare infrastructure to be provided.

“What government has done is to request them to build a 30-bed isolation ward and a 10-bed Intensive Care Unit in each state in the country. In addition, the federal government has given them a list of equipment and commodities that will also be needed. Therefore, the issue of using their donations to provide palliative cannot arise,” Mohammed said