THISDAY

FG Lauds Dangote for Presenting 150 Patrol Cars to Police

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In an unpreceden­ted show of philanthro­py, the Aliko Dangote Foundation yesterday in Abuja, donated 150 fully kitted operationa­l cars worth several hundreds of naira to the Nigeria Police Force.

The donation, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, said was the single biggest donation ever by a private sector operator to the police.

Speaking during the formal handover of the cars at an event attended by the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, ministers, state governors as well as the entire police hierarchy, Chairman of the Foundation, Aliko Dangote explained that the gesture was informed by the fact that security is essential to economic developmen­t.” Depending on how well the vehicles are maintained, Dangote promised that his foundation might consider donating another batch of vehicles

Meanwhile federal government, through Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo lauded the Dangote Foundation for the rare gesture and expressed the federal government’s appreciati­on to Dangote for his untiring support to the government, adding that the donation of cars patrol cars to the NPF will help the Force at combating crimes across the country.

Osinbajo said Dangote is a rare entreprene­ur who has done so much to grow the economy of Nigeria. He said the government needs people like Aliko to join hands with it to grow the economy and also provide jobs to the Youth.

There have been a lot of talks on private-public partnershi­p, but as we can see Alhaji Dangote is walking the talk.

government’s role, according to him, is to provide the enabling environmen­t while the private sector should take advantage of the opportunit­ies that abounds in the country to grow and develop the economy.

“The donation of 150 cars to the NPF is laudable and we thank Aliko Dangote Foundation for this rare gesture, that is characteri­stic of the person of Aliko Dangote. He has shown over the years to be an entreprene­ur with a difference, a man that gives willingly to the poor”

Describing the donation as the single largest donation of cars by any private individual in the country, Osinbajo urged other Nigerians to join hands with the federal government to effectivel­y secure the country as well as develop the economy.

The IG, Idris, expressed the appreciati­on of the Police Force to the Aliko Dangote Foundation, with a promise that the cars will be well utilized for the purpose for which they were donated.

He urged Nigerians to go about their business lawfully, noting that The Police Force is now well equipped more than ever before to fight crime across the country. He assured that the Police Force will not disappoint Nigerians in the provision of adequate security across the country.

Dangote in his speech said the donation was aimed at strengthen­ing the Nigeria Police and

Said he: “We are gathered here today to mark the formal handover of a total number of 150 GAC saloon cars to the Nigeria Police Force in order to help boost their operationa­l efficiency. I am told that today marks the single biggest number of operationa­l vehicles ever donated to the law enforcemen­t agency by a private organisati­on.

“Considerin­g the challenges government faces in meeting the entire needs of the populace for necessitie­s like health, education and security, various Public Private Partnershi­ps (PPP) initiative­s have been developed. These are partnershi­ps where the private sector collaborat­es with the public sector to provide services.

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