COVID-19: FMN redeems 1bn pledge to support Nigeria

Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC has redeemed its pledge of about $2.8 million to the Nigerian Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19.

This Nigeria’s biggest food business and agro-allied group brings its biggest strength to the table to fight the COVID-19 virus.

The group has weathered an herculean supply chain challenge to procure $1.5 million worth of medical supplies for Nigeria which will rapidly beef up the Nigerian COVID-19 testing capability and as well commenced deployment of a $840,000 food relief packages to vulnerable communities in 12 states across the nation.

Explaining how to kick off the the FMN COVID-19 response, the Group Chief Operating Officer, Boye Olusanya, to said, “To reduce the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak, FMN will continue to work with the Federal Government and related agencies to provide relief materials. The safety of Nigerians is paramount to us, so we encourage all Nigerians to adhere to the necessary protective measures against the virus and its spread.”

The COVID-19 scourge has also necessitated global economies to implement restrictions to ensure their frontline responders have sufficient medical supplies and personal protection equipment (PPE) to combat the virus. As such, supply chain of medical supplies in these unprecedented times has been severely impacted globally.

FMN has thus initiated a global supply chain plan to help provide The Nigerian Government with tangible, and tactical support during the global economic lockdown.

This initiative was spearheaded by the philanthropic Industrialist John Coumantaros, Chairman of the FMN Group. Planning involved the leadership of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), vendors from 5 Nations, multiple logistics partners, and a tireless team drawn from the FMN group’s operational leadership.

The team scaled through varying national restrictions on medical supply procurement, limited stock, transport restrictions, but stayed resolute in the race to help Nigeria manage and flatten the curve.

The medical supplies being facilitated include 331,000 pieces of PPE (N95 Masks, Coveralls, Protective gloves, Protective eyewear), 35,000 laboratory-based testing capacity, 100/day field-testing capacity and 75 Ventilators to be distributed through the NCDC.

Nigeria currently has 373 confirmed cases, 11 deaths and 99 recoveries from the COVID-19 virus thus far in Nigeria.