FG can't distribute N15bn donated by private sector as palliatives to Nigerians - Lai Mohammed

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has said that the Federal Government cannot distribute the donations from the private sector to Nigerians as palliatives.

Over N15 billion has been donated by the private sector to the Federal Government to help in the fight against coronavirus.

Nigerians have called on the government to distribute the sum as palliatives to help cushion the effect of coronavirus which has kept people on lockdown and away from their source of livelihood.

Lai Mohammed who appeared on Radio Nigeria today gave reasons why the Federal Government cannot heed to such call.

“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.” the Minister said.