1 million bottles of Aquafina drinking water and other beverages were donated by the Seven-Up Bottling Company to the Lagos State Emergency Food Relief, with an additional 1 million bottles sent to other states. This donation is intended to support vulnerable communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company expressed its commitment to aiding various state governments in this effort through a statement on their social media platforms.
In addition to the donation, the company outlined plans to further assist in containing the spread of the coronavirus in Nigeria. This includes a partnership with renowned Nollywood director Niyi Akinmolayan for a sensitization campaign, which will produce educational video content aimed at grassroots communities and utilize the company’s media resources. This initiative is especially timely as the Nigerian Minister of Health highlighted early signs of community transmission and emphasized the importance of such educational efforts, particularly in grassroots communities, during a recent press briefing.
Since the first case of COVID-19 was recorded in Nigeria on February 28, 2020, the number of cases has steadily increased, leading the President to declare a lockdown in the three states with the highest number of cases.
Managing Director of SBC, Mr. Ziad Maalouf, emphasized that this donation is the company’s way of supporting vulnerable communities during this challenging period. He also expressed appreciation for those on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19, underlining the significance of collective action to ensure safety and support for one another.
The statement concluded by reminding the public to adhere to the containment measures advised by the authorities. Currently, the virus has spread to 14 states in Nigeria, resulting in 5 recorded deaths.