BUA continues Nigeria COVID-19 intervention with donations to Akwa Ibom, Abia
Aderemi Ojekunle is a Businessamlive Reporter.
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.8 ambulances, facemasks given out
Akwa Ibom and Abia States have become the recent beneficiaries of the ongoing efforts by BUA Group to support the fight against the spread of the coronavirus pandemic (also known as COVID-19) in the country.
At separate presentation ceremonies in the respective capitals of both states, the group presented eight ambulances, five to Akwa Ibom State and three to Abia State, through their respective governors.
R-L: Aliyu Idi Hong, director, government relations, BUA Group; Emmanuel
Ekuwem, secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government; Governor Udom Emmanuel
of Akwa Ibom State; and O’tega Ogra, group head, corporate
communications, during the donation of five ambulances and 100,000
reusable face masks by BUA Group to help fight against the COVID-19
pandemic in Akwa Ibom State at Government House, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State got in addition 100,000 reusable cotton made face masks.
BUA representatives who made the presentations commended Governor Udom Emmanuel in Uyo and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in Umuahia for their efforts in tackling the pandemic and noted that the donations are in line with BUA’s promise to support Nigerians in fighting the pandemic.
Aliyu Idi Hong, BUA’s director of government relations, and Ibrahim Lile, general manager, BUA Ports and Terminals, who represented Abdul Samad Rabiu, the group’s executive chairman and chief executive officer in the states respectively, commended the governors for their passion and creativity in the fight against COVID-19.
Governor Udom Emmanuel in Uyo said the donation was critical to the COVID-19 campaign in the state and thanked BUA and Abdul Samad Rabiu for the gesture, which he said will strengthen the state’s rapid response to the pandemic.
Governor Emmanuel said the gesture was a clear demonstration of the readiness and interest of Rabiu to join his administration in the development of the state. He restated his administration’s total commitment to fighting coronavirus in the state even as school resumes for exit exams.
He promised to deploy the ambulances to the different local government areas of the state in line with his administration’s policy of ensuring that every part of the state is well equipped for eventual medical emergencies.
“I have to personally be here to receive these because there are a lot of corporate organisations in Nigeria and Africa who have not shown this kind of love to us. To us as a people, this is a clear demonstration of love and we don’t take things like this for granted. And I want to thank BUA for their kind words and appreciation of what we have done so far,” the governor said.
Governor Emmanuel described the BUA contribution as a clear demonstration of its corporate social responsibility to the entire people, adding that it also expresses the sentiment of love for the company and the citizens.
He said the government will move the face masks donated to schools to be shared to students of SS3 and JSS3 classes that have resumed.
Also, in Umuahia, Governor Ikpeazu thanked BUA and the executive chairman, Rabiu, for its show of empathy, love and care for the average Nigerian since the outbreak of the pandemic and described the donation as timely.
Ibrahim Lile (right), general manager, BUA Ports and Terminals,
representing BUA Group; Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State (middle);
and other top government officials during the donation of three
ambulances to help fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in the state at
the Government House, Umuahia.
Ikpeazu assured that the vehicles would be put to good use in reaching the hinterlands, disclosing that the state has started community testing in all the local government areas in the state with a view to covering at least 30 percent of the population.
“I want to publicly declare that BUA has shown empathy, they have shown how much love and care they have for the average Nigerians. My promise is that these ambulances will be put to good use to reach the hinterland and local government. The ambulances will help us drive our agenda and goal,” the governor said.