For the measures so far taken in the fight against the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the state, the organised Private sector in Benue on Friday commended the Benue State government.

The commendation came from the President, Benue Chamber of Commerce, Industry,Mines and Agriculture (BECCIMA), Paul Ubwa, who led other leaders of the chamber to the office of the state deputy governor and chairman, State Action Committee on COVID-19, Engr Benson Abounu.

Ubwa, who made a donation of one million naira to the Committee, said they were moved by the call of the Committee to good spirited individuals and corporate bodies to make contributions towards containing the spread of the virus in the state to make their humble contribution, which he acknowledged though as “insignificant to the present need”.

He lamented that with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Benue economy has been hit the hardest of any other state in Nigeria given the immense stress it was prior to COVID-19,where farming activities were at its lowest ebb due to insecurity and high volume of internally displaced people (IDP) as well as the increased unemployment resulting from low economic activities and shutdown of the private sector.

Receiving the 5-man delegation, Engr Abounu thanked the Chamber for responding to its call for assistance and for its continuous partnership over the years, adding that outside the United Bank for Africa (UBA), which made a donation of N28.5m to the state, BECCIMA is the first to respond.

He stated that the task of keeping COVID-19 out of the state is huge and capital intensive, demanding the support of everyone in the state.

He expressed joy that people are becoming aware of the dangers posed by the novel virus and the need to come together to confront it. He disclosed that in line with the pledge by the president, the federal government shall soon begin reaching out with palliatives to the poorest of the poor in the state to help them cope with the difficulties of the economic downturn.