• Commits N300 Million for feeding vulnerable communities in 12 states
• Redeems N1bn Pledge to FG through CBN

Mr John Coumantaros, Chairman of the Flour Mills of Nigeria Group (FMN Group) has donated a $1.5 million worth of ventilators and other essential personal protective equipment and testing kits to the Federal Government.

Coumantaros, an industrialist and known philanthropist said that the first batch of the supplies, sourced through FMN’s global supply chain, focused on the most essential needs of the government at the moment, had arrived.

A statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the Group’s Chief Operating Officer, Boye Olusanya, said that the supplies which will continue to arrive until March 31, will beef up Nigeria’s fight against COVID-19.

Olusanya said that the supplies were an additional contribution by FMN through its Chairman, Coumantaros. The Group had also redeemed an initial One Billion Naira pledge to the Federal Government of Nigeria. He noted that despite procurement restrictions on supplies by several countries to ensure their frontline responders had sufficient supplies, FMN through its global supply chain network ensured that it sourced and procured the critical supplies for Nigeria.

He added that some of the items on the first batch include ventilators, protective equipment and testing kits, assuring that all the supply would have arrived and handed over by April end.

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

“This initiative led by the philanthropic Industrialist John Coumantaros, Chairman of the FMN Group, involved the leadership of the NCDC, Ministry of Finance, vendors from 5 Nations, multiple logistics partners, and a 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 will facilitate 100 per day field-testing capacity and 35,000 laboratory-based testing capacity.

The supplies included: 331,000 pieces of PPE (N95 Masks, Coveralls, Protective gloves, Protective eyewear) enough to provide regular use for 10,000 Nigerian health care professionals over two months.

“There are also 75 Ventilators. These supplies will be delivered to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to ramp up the capacity in Nigeria,” he said.

He said that the medical supplies procured from Dubai, United States, Canada, Greece and China have started arriving Nigeria from April 18, through to April 27.

He said that the group had already redeemed its One billion Naira pledge to the CBN-led Nigerian Private Sector Coalition against COVID-19.

Olusanya added that following a directive from FMN’s Chairman, Coumantaros, the group has commenced deployment of an N300 million food relief packages to vulnerable communities most affected by the lockdown in 12 states across the Nation.

“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.

“FMN relying on its 60-year-old profile as an industrial giant in Nigeria’s critical food value-chains and a significant contributor to Nigeria’s quest to feed itself is bringing its biggest strength to the table, using its global supply chain network to help Nigeria defend itself against COVID-19,” he said.

ABOUT FLOUR MILLS OF NIGERIA plc (FMN) 

Flour Mills of Nigeria was incorporated on 29 September 1960 as a private limited liability company and commenced operations in 1962 with an installed flour milling capacity of 500 metric tons per day.

In 1978, FMN was converted to a public limited liability company and its shares were subsequently listed on The Nigerian Stock Exchange. Today, FMN remains Nigeria’s largest and oldest food and Agro-Allied company, with a broad product portfolio and a robust pan-Nigerian distribution network.

The Company’s three major business segments-Food, Agro-Allied and Support Services (Packaging, Port Operation and Packaging)-are constantly evolving to meet the diverse needs of all stakeholders and Feeding the Nation, Everyday.