FG donates $500,000 to Malawi

The federal government has donated 30,000 tonnes of drugs, medical equipment, insecticide treated nets and $500,000 to the Republic of Malawi.

In March, Malawi was hit by Cyclone Idai which caused the death of at least 60 persons and destroyed not less than 86,000 houses and public infrastructure.

On Monday, Geoffrey Onyeama, minister of foreign affairs, led a delegation to Lilongwe, capital of the country.

He handed over the relief materials to Nicholas Dausi, the minister of homeland security and disaster management affairs of the Republic of Malawi.

Onyeama said Nigeria had a special duty and responsibility to be a “big brother” in Africa, adding that any tragedy or misfortune that befalls any African country also affects Nigeria.

The minister also extended the sympathy of Buhari to the people of the country.

“We share this burden and the loss with you in this country, “Onyeama said.

“When the hurricane happened, Nigeria was conducting election, nevertheless, President Buhari instructed us that as quickly as possible we had to mobilise resources to bring to this country.

“We mobilised over 8,000 medical items, equipment to assist and also cash donation of 500,000 U.S dollars.

“The amount is huge, 30, 000 tonnes of items , which will be transported to Malawi in the next one or two weeks maximum.

“Some of our big transporters C130 will deliver the equipment maybe in two trips but we sent some of the equipment with a small plane, for this occasion.

“Please, accept our deepest sympathy and the statistics are very disturbing, 86 000 people displaced, with some deaths and injured.”

Responding, Dausi thanked the federal government for the assistance , which he said would go a long away to help victims of the disaster.

“On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Malawi and the people that are scattered across 67 camps in the disaster and over 886,000 people affected, I want to sincerely express our deep thanks for your thoughtfulness,” Dausi said.

He said Malawi had benefited a lot from Nigeria in the areas of education and other sectors since 1960, adding that Nigeria had rendered both human and material support to Malawi during the struggle to end apartheid.

He also congratulated Buhari on his re-election and wished him a successful second tenure.