Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde
The Oyo State Government on Tuesday, said it has spent N2.779billion in the ongoing fight against the novel coronavirus in the State.

The Government said the N378million cash raised from willing donors, including individuals and corporate organisations, is still intact in the dedicated COVID-19 endowment account as all the expenditures so far are from the State coffers.

The State Commissioner of Finance, Mr Akinola Ojo, gave the update while addressing newsmen at the Governor’s Office, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan.

According to Ojo, while N900million was spent on palliatives and seedlings for affected farmers, about N370milion was spent on the Infectious Disease Centre, Olodo.

Additionally, the Commissioner, who was flanked by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr Taiwo Adisa, said N453million has been spent on security and securing the State borders in the fight against COVID-19; N156milliin to be paid to healthworkers, including volunteers, medical and health workers, as allowances.

Also, he said the sum of N118m was given to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan as support, N321million used in buying ambulances to support the Ministry of Health and N614 spent on reagents, consumables, tests and cost of treating COVID-19 patients in the State.

Ojo noted that the State has also got a reassurance from the Federal Government through the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for financial support of N100million, which is still being awaited.

The Commissioner said overall, the cash and material donations received so far by the State from individuals and corporate donors currently stands at N1.177billion, saying the Coalition Against COVID-19 (CaCovid) alone donated items to the tune of N250milion to the State.