A consortium of petroleum products marketers in Delta have donated food items and medical equipment worth N100 million to the state government to support its measures at ameliorating the effects of ongoing lockdown on the people, occasioned by COVID-19.

Making the presentation of the food items on Thursday at the state’s Food Bank in Ibusa, a representative of the group known as Tank Farm Owners in Oghara, Koko and Warri, Mr Phillip Otobo, said the donation was in response to the state government’s recent call for such assistance.

He said that the group which comprised Rain Oil, Cybernetics, Matrix, Prudence, AYM Sharfa, Optima, Taurus and Nepal companies, donated the items to cushion the effect of the lockdown on people in the state.

Otobo listed the items and equipment as “one trailer-load of rice containing 3,000 bags of 10kg each, two trailers containing 8,000 Honeywell noodles, two high-roof Toyota ambulance vehicle with fully fitted ventilators, 100 packs of face masks, 50 pieces of Coverall, 30 pieces of goggle and 15 units of hospital beds’’.

He said “the companies are donating to the state government to boost and support the fight against COVID-19 and to cushion the effect of the lockdown on the people of the state who are our customers.

“As responsible companies doing business in Delta, we owe it as a corporate social responsibility to assist the government in providing for the people in times like this.’’

Receiving the items, Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Mofe Pirrah, thanked the companies for the gesture, saying “on behalf of the Delta State Government we want to use this opportunity to appreciate the association of tank farm owners in Oghara, Koko and Warri axis.

“The governor made a call for support from public-spirited organisations and well-meaning individuals, and we are happy that the association of tank farm owners has responded well to that call by coming with these items.

“We know that it will go a long way in the fight against COVID-19,’’ Pirah, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Benson Oburoh, said.

“On behalf of the government, I appreciate you and call on other public-spirited organisations, individuals and societies to please emulate the association of tank farm owners by coming to assist government as government cannot do it alone,” he added.

The presentation of the items was witnessed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Olisa Ifeajika and the Director, Delta State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr Karo Ovemeso.