Lamido Sanusi says this is part of the Central Bank’s corporate social responsibility initiatives. The Central Bank of Nigeria, on Monday, donated N25 million to victims of the Christmas Day bomb attack at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State.
Lamido Sanusi, the CBN governor, while handing over the cheque, said the donation was in line with CBN’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy. He said the CSR initiative, which has been in existence since 2006, had enabled the bank to support people in times of need.
For instance, he recalled how the apex bank vacated one of its branches to provide accommodation to the victims of the bomb blast that rocked the United Nations building in July 2011.
“We are here to express our condolence to the families of the victims,” he said. “What happened on December 25 was tragic because it has a bad implication for the country. Attacking a church on a Sunday or a mosque on a Friday during the period of worship is an attack on an entire faith.”
The parish priest of the church, Rev. Father Isaac Achi, commended the CBN for the gesture and assured that the donation would be sent to the affected victims. “The incident robbed us the joy that goes with the Christmas season because it affected 127 people including the 44 that lost their lives,” he said. “We still have four victims at the teaching hospital in Abuja while 12 others are at the National Hospital and we are happy with the solidarity visit you have paid to us.”
Seven hospitalised victims of the Christmas Day bombing by Boko Haram have gone blind, the parish priest said yesterday.
The deadly sect bombed St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State on Christmas Day last year during an early morning mass.
Forty-four people died in the blast; 83 were injured.
The suspected mastermind of the blast, Kabiru Sokoto, is in security custody. His suspected accomplice, Habibu Bama, has been declared wanted.
Rev. Father Isaac Achi spoke yesterday while receiving Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who led a team of the apex bank to donate N25million to the church, victims and members of the community affected by the blast.
The priest said: “Of the 127 victims, we lost 44, out of the injured seven lost their sight, four are still at Gwagwalada Specialist, eight at National Hospital, Abuja. Others have been referred to Kano, Zaria, Lagos and Enugu hospitals.”
Sanusi said the donation was in line with the 2006 Corporate Social Responsibility, approved by the Board, permitting the management to show concern to victims of any form of disaster.
“It was in the light of this that the Committee of Governors of the bank met to offer assistance to the victims, their families, widows, orphans and others whose property were damaged by the blast. This is to show that we can all be our brothers’ keepers.
“We wish to announce the donation of N25million to the church and the community for the rehabilitation of our people.”
Sanusi said such a gesture was extended to the United Nations whose building was bombed in Abuja last year. He said the CBN provided accommodation to staff of the global body by renovating a building and donating it to them.
Praying for the repose of the souls of the victim and quick recovery for the injured, Sanusi also prayed that God should frustrate the activities of the enemies of the country.
A donation of N100million was made by the bank to victims of the Kano explosion.
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Posted on February 21, 2012
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