Nigeria: former state governor pledges millions to fight virus

A former governor of Lagos state has pledged to donate 200 million Naira (US$522,000) to help prevent the spread of coronavirus in Nigeria. 

Bola Ahmed Tinubu has instructed for the money to be split between the Lagos state government and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). 

On Twitter, Mr Tinubu expressed a message of hope, writing “together, we will overcome this terrible disease”. 

Tinubu was elected senator for the Lagos West Consitutency of Lagos State immediately prior to Nigeria’s military take-over in 1993. After democracy was reinstated he was elected governor of Lagos State on behalf of the All Progressives Congress party. He currently holds the chieftaincies of the Asiwaju of Lagos and Jagaban of the Borgu Kingdom.

Other prominent Nigerian leaders and businessmen have also pledged money to fight the coronavirus, including industrialist Aliko Dangote and oil magnate Femi Otedola. 

On Sunday President Muhammadu Buhari set aside a special fund of $40m to help deal with the pandemic, which so far has 111 confirmed cases in Nigeria. 

Photo: TheGuardian