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 most significant 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 Nigerian Police Force 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 abound in the country to grow and develop the economy.

“The donation of 150 cars to the Nigerian Police Force 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 adequately secure the nation as well as develop the economy.

The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris expressed the appreciation of the Police Force to the Aliko Dangote Foundation, with a promise that the cars will be well utilised 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 would 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 to help boost their operational efficiency. I am told that today marks the single most significant 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.

The Foundation, according to Dangote has been active in the four areas of Health, Education, Economic Empowerment and Disaster relief, and had expended upwards of N10 billion annually. This is in addition to the CSR efforts of our various business units.

While calling on other corporate organizations to rise up to the challenge of helping the security agencies in the country, Dangote stated that his Foundation made a N50 million donation to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, and built the Police Intelligence Hostel Complex in Kwara State, all of which are part of the collaborations by the Foundation.

“Today, we are deepening our intervention in security with the donation of these 150 fully kitted operational vehicles to the Police Force. These vehicles will support the Nigeria Police Force in surveillance, crime prevention and promote law and order.

The Chairman of the CIG Motors Nigeria Limited, Chief Diana Chan commended the Dangote Foundation for the wonderful gesture for helping the security agency and providing it with logistics to aid its operations.

He said the number of vehicles donated by the Aliko Dangote Foundation was unprecedented and that it has thrown the challenge to other private sector operators to come to the aid of the security agencies in the country.

•Photo shows from L-R: Secretary to the Federal Government, Boss Mustapha, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Chairman of the Foundation, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris at the formal handover ceremony.

Update news