Dino Melaye advices billionaires and philanthropists donating to the public during the lockdown

Dino Melaye has shared some words of advice for billionaires and philanthropists looking to donate to the public during the lockdown brought on by the Coronavirus pandemic.

The senator wrote on Instagram: “My singular advise to our billionaires, Corporate Nigeria, multinationals, philanthropists and donors. Please buy medicament, food and drinks plus money and share to the people directly at the federal or state level. I no hear English ooo so don’t ask me why.”

His advice comes after the Presidential Task Force on the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic said it has no control over the multi-billion naira contributions that have so far been announced by various donors towards the fight against the pandemic.

Chairman of the task force and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha said earlier this month that the only thing so far received by the task force was the materials donated recently by the founder of Alibaba Group, Jack Ma.

It also comes after the federal government said that billions being announced by private individuals towards the fight against Coronavirus pandemic, is not coming to the coffers of the government.

At the daily briefing by the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 in Abuja on April 2nd, the National Coordinator of the taskforce, Dr Sani Aliyu, was asked to enlighten Nigerians on who accounts for the billions individuals and corporate organizations have donated towards the fight against COVID-19 and he said:

“The private sector has a seperate fund which is run through the Coalition Against Coronavirus Disease. That’s where you get most of the announcements that this person has given a billion and this is a separate account. It has nothing to do with government and the money will not come to government.

“We appreciate the help of the private sector in helping us and they will be providing us with commodity but the money they are currently collecting will not come to government. It is a separate bank account.”